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

Showalter, 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 Showalter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Showalter in America

Showalter is the 4044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Showalter surname appeared 8,786 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Showalter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Showalter 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 Showalter

The surname Showalter is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the early medieval period in the region of Bavaria, Germany. The name is believed to derive from the Old German words "schouwe" and "walter," which together translate to "forest watcher" or "forest guardian." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been employed as foresters or held positions related to the protection and management of forests.

The earliest recorded instances of the Showalter name can be found in historical documents dating back to the 13th century, where it appears in various spellings such as "Schouwolter," "Schouwalter," and "Schauwalter." These variations reflect the evolution of the German language over time and the regional dialects in which the name was pronounced and recorded.

In the 15th century, the Showalter name gained prominence when Johannes Showalter (1412-1478) served as a skilled cartographer and mapmaker for the Holy Roman Empire. His detailed maps and charts of various regions were highly regarded and played a crucial role in the expansion of trade routes and exploration during that era.

Another notable figure bearing the Showalter name was Hans Showalter (1520-1592), a renowned botanist and herbalist from the German city of Nuremberg. His extensive work in documenting and studying medicinal plants and their applications in traditional medicine earned him widespread recognition among his contemporaries.

During the 17th century, the Showalter family established a strong presence in the Black Forest region of Germany, where they were involved in the logging and timber industries. One prominent member of this lineage was Wilhelm Showalter (1648-1712), who gained recognition for his innovative techniques in sustainable forestry practices and was instrumental in preserving the region's natural resources.

In the late 18th century, several Showalter families emigrated from Germany to the United States, seeking new opportunities and religious freedom. Among the earliest documented arrivals was Johann Showalter (1745-1818), who settled in Pennsylvania and established a successful farming community that became known as Showalter's Mill.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Showalter name continued to spread across various regions of the United States, with individuals making notable contributions in fields such as education, politics, and business. One influential figure was Mary Showalter (1865-1947), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded several schools and played a significant role in advancing educational opportunities for women in the Midwest.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Showalter

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

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 Showalter 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 Showalter 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 Showalter was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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