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

Stahl, 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 Stahl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stahl in America

Stahl is the 1619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stahl surname appeared 22,211 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Stahl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stahl 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 Stahl

The surname Stahl is of German origin, with its roots traceable back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Stahl," which means "steel" or "sword." This etymology suggests that the name may have been initially associated with metalworkers, swordsmiths, or individuals involved in the production or trade of steel.

The earliest known records of the Stahl surname can be found in various German regions, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. In the 14th century, the name appears in the records of the city of Nürnberg, where it was likely associated with the renowned metalworking industry of the region.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Stahl surname is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This record mentions a certain "Johannes Stahl," indicating the presence of the name in this region during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Stahl surname gained prominence with the birth of Georg Ernst Stahl (1659-1734), a renowned German chemist and physician. Stahl is known for his contributions to the field of chemistry, particularly his theory of phlogiston, which attempted to explain the process of combustion.

Another notable figure bearing the Stahl surname is Friedrich Julius Stahl (1802-1861), a German jurist and legal philosopher. He is best known for his work on the historical school of jurisprudence and his theory of the state as an organic entity.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of August Wilhelm Stahl (1813-1900), a German poet and writer. He is particularly renowned for his lyrical poetry and his works exploring the themes of nature and rural life.

The Stahl surname also found its way into the military annals, with the likes of General Johann Baptist Stahl (1619-1680), a prominent military commander during the Thirty Years' War. He served under the Holy Roman Empire and played a significant role in various battles.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning Carl Stahl (1848-1919), a German industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Carl Stahl Company, a leading manufacturer of wire rope and lifting equipment. His contributions to the industrial sector left a lasting impact on the German economy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stahl

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

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

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

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