2000
#133,114
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Stalf
A variant spelling of the occupational surname Stalfe, denoting someone who sold or distributed hay or straw.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 132 Americans carry the last name Stalf. That puts it at #145,757 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,596,624 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stalf surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
132
1 in 2,596,624
Census rank
#145,757
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
115
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 115 bearers of the surname Stalf in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145757th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stalf, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.8%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stalf
The surname STALF has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany. The name is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 9th or 10th century.
One theory suggests that STALF is derived from the Old High German word "stalh," which means "steel" or "hard metal." This could indicate that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked as blacksmiths, metalworkers, or in other professions related to the forging and manipulation of metals.
Another possibility is that STALF is a locational surname, referring to a specific place or region where the name originated. In some instances, locational surnames were adopted by individuals who had migrated from their ancestral homes to other areas, taking on the name of their place of origin as a means of identification.
While it is difficult to pinpoint the earliest recorded instances of the STALF surname, historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries in various regions of Germany provide evidence of its existence. One notable mention is found in the Annals of Quedlinburg Abbey, a medieval chronicle that references a certain "Hermannus Stalf" in the year 1189.
In the 14th century, a prominent figure bearing the STALF name was Johann Stalf, a skilled artisan and woodcarver who lived in the city of Nuremberg between 1320 and 1387. His intricate works adorned several churches and public buildings in the region, earning him a reputation as a master craftsman.
During the 16th century, a branch of the STALF family settled in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where they established a successful business in the production of fine textiles. One member of this family, Hans Stalf (1525-1589), became a respected merchant and served as a local magistrate.
Another notable individual with the STALF surname was Katharina Stalf (1680-1745), a renowned herbalist and healer from the village of Eberbach. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies was widely sought after, and she was often referred to as the "Wise Woman of Eberbach."
In the 18th century, a military officer named Friedrich Stalf (1712-1783) distinguished himself in the Prussian Army during the Seven Years' War. He rose through the ranks and was eventually awarded the title of Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) for his valor and strategic leadership on the battlefield.
While these are just a few examples, the STALF surname has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Germanic regions of Europe.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stalf
Among Census respondents with the surname Stalf, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.8%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Stalf bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Stalf surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.7% · 102
- Hispanic or Latino7.8% · 9
- Two or more races2.6% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Stalf
Stalf appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
-7 bearers (-6.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 16,281 places
2020
#145,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+5 bearers (+4.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,638 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #133,114 | 117 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-6.0%) | Down 16,281 places |
| 2020 | #145,757 | 115 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.5%) | Up 3,638 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Stalf surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #149,395 | #145,757 | 2.4% |
| Count | 110 | 115 | 4.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Stalf bearers went from 110 to 115 (+4.5% change). The surname moved up 3,638 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #145,757.
FAQ
Stalf surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Stalf?
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the surname Stalf. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,596,624 residents.
How common is Stalf?
Stalf ranks #145,757 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 115 people with the surname Stalf. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (132), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Stalf.
Has Stalf become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Stalf went from 110 recorded bearers to 115. That is an increase of 5 (+4.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #145,757.
What does the Census say about the background of Stalf?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stalf, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.8%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Stalf in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.7% (102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Stalf appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.7%), Hispanic (7.8%), Two or More Races (2.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Stalf (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Stalf mean?
A variant spelling of the occupational surname Stalfe, denoting someone who sold or distributed hay or straw. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Stalf (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Stalf?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.