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

Sternberger, 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 Sternberger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sternberger in America

Sternberger is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sternberger surname appeared 163 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Sternberger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sternberger 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 Sternberger

The surname Sternberger has its roots in the German language and originated in the regions of modern-day Germany and Austria. The name is derived from the German words "Stern," meaning star, and "Berg," meaning mountain or hill. This suggests that the name could have referred to a person or family residing near a prominent landform such as a starred or steeple-shaped hill.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Sternberger can be found in the Codex Traditionum Lunaelacensium, a medieval cartulary from the 12th century that documents property transactions and landholdings in the region of Lunelacensis, which is now part of modern-day Austria. The name appears in this historical manuscript as "Sternberger," indicating that the spelling has remained relatively consistent over the centuries.

In the 14th century, a nobleman named Heinrich von Sternberger was mentioned in the Annals of the Cistercian Monastery of Heiligenkreuz, which chronicled the events and notable individuals of the time. This early reference suggests that the Sternberger name held some prominence and was associated with the nobility in that region.

During the 16th century, a renowned mathematician and astronomer named Johannes Sternberger (1512-1586) made significant contributions to the understanding of celestial phenomena. His work on calculating the orbits of comets and planets was highly regarded and earned him recognition throughout Europe.

Another notable individual bearing the Sternberger surname was Caspar Sternberger (1617-1678), a German composer and organist who served in various churches and courts during the Baroque period. His compositions, particularly his sacred works, were widely performed and appreciated during his lifetime.

In the realm of literature, the 19th century saw the emergence of the German writer and poet Friedrich Sternberger (1810-1892), whose works explored themes of nature, love, and the human experience. His collection of poems, titled "Gedichte" (Poems), published in 1856, received critical acclaim and solidified his reputation as a notable literary figure of the Romantic era.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the Sternberger surname throughout history, spanning various fields such as nobility, science, music, and literature. While the name's origins can be traced back to the German-speaking regions, its presence has been documented across different parts of Europe over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sternberger

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!