Find out how popular the last name Spengler is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Spengler.
A German occupational surname referring to a maker of buckles, clasps, or spangles, or a wood shingle maker.
Spengler, 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 Spengler surname is from the 2010 census data.
Spengler is the 13871st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Spengler surname appeared 2,178 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 Spengler.
We can also compare 2010 data for Spengler 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.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 13871 | 13372 | 3.66% |
| Count | 2,178 | 2,089 | 4.17% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.74 | 0.77 | -3.97% |
The surname Spengler is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "spengelære," which referred to a nail maker or someone who worked with nails. This occupational surname emerged in the 13th century, reflecting the trades and professions of the time.
The name can be traced back to various regions of Germany, particularly in areas where metalworking and blacksmithing were prevalent. The earliest records of the name Spengler appear in medieval German documents, such as town registers and guild records.
One of the earliest known references to the name Spengler is found in a 14th-century manuscript from the city of Nuremberg, which mentions a Konrad Spengler, a prominent craftsman and member of the metalworkers' guild. This document highlights the importance of the nail-making trade in the region during that period.
Another notable individual bearing the name Spengler was Lazarus Spengler (1479-1534), a German clergyman and reformer from Nuremberg. He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther.
In the 16th century, the name Spengler appeared in various places across Germany, often associated with metalworking centers. For instance, records from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber mention a family of Spenglers who were renowned blacksmiths and nail makers.
The name Spengler also found its way into literature and philosophy. Oswald Spengler (1880-1936), a German philosopher and historian, is famous for his influential work "The Decline of the West," in which he analyzed the cyclical nature of civilizations.
Other notable individuals with the surname Spengler include Johann Spengler (1480-1537), a German composer and theologian from Nuremberg, and Anton Spengler (1505-1581), a German goldsmith and engraver known for his intricate metalwork.
Throughout history, the name Spengler has been associated with various spellings and variations, such as Spengelær, Spengeler, and Spenglar, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time. However, the core meaning of the name remained tied to the occupation of nail making and metalworking.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Spengler.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Spengler was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 94.40% | 2,056 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.28% | 6 |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.87% | 19 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 1.93% | 42 |
| Hispanic Origin | 2.53% | 55 |
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 Spengler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.40% | 96.84% | -2.55% |
| Black | 0.28% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.87% | 0.53% | 48.57% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 1.93% | 1.29% | 39.75% |
| Hispanic | 2.53% | 1.20% | 71.31% |
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 Spengler was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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