Find out how popular the last name Seyler is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Seyler.

Seyler, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Seyler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seyler in America

Seyler is the 14257th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seyler surname appeared 2,102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Seyler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seyler to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Seyler

The surname SEYLER is of German origin, derived from the occupation of a maker or seller of sieves or strainers. It is an occupational surname that emerged in the Middle Ages, likely in the 13th or 14th century.

The name is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word "sīlære," which translates to "sieve maker" or "sieve seller." This occupation was essential in households and mills, where sieves were used to separate grains, flour, and other materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SEYLER can be found in the records of the town of Augsburg, Germany, dated around 1350. The name appears as "Seiler," which is a variant spelling commonly found in various regions of Germany.

In the 15th century, the SEYLER name appeared in several historical documents, including the tax records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Seyler was listed as a resident. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in urban areas during that time period.

Notably, in the 16th century, a prominent figure named Johann Seyler (1556-1622) was a German Lutheran theologian and author. He served as a professor at the University of Leipzig and published several works on religious and philosophical topics.

Another notable individual with the surname SEYLER was Johann Philipp Seyler (1691-1768), a German painter and engraver. He was born in Nuremberg and is known for his portraits and religious paintings, some of which can still be found in churches and museums in Germany.

In the 18th century, the SEYLER name gained recognition in the world of theater. Abel Seyler (1730-1800) was a German actor, director, and theater manager. He founded the Abel Seyler Theater Company, which traveled throughout Germany and played a significant role in the development of German theater.

Moving into the 19th century, Wilhelm Seyler (1816-1895) was a German engineer and inventor. He is credited with developing the first practical incandescent light bulb in 1854, predating Thomas Edison's invention by several decades.

Throughout history, the surname SEYLER has been found in various regions of Germany, as well as in areas where German immigrants settled, such as parts of the United States and Canada. The name has maintained its distinct German roots and occupational origins, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seyler

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Seyler.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Seyler was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Seyler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Seyler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Seyler, please contact us.

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