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

Walrath, 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 Walrath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Walrath in America

Walrath is the 14006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Walrath surname appeared 2,150 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 Walrath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Walrath 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 Walrath

The surname Walrath has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic words "wald" meaning "forest" and "rath" meaning "counsel" or "advisor." This suggests that the name may have been originally bestowed upon someone who lived or worked near a forest or provided counsel or advice related to forest resources.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Walrath can be found in the town of Waldrath, located in the Rhineland region of Germany. Historical records indicate that a family bearing this surname lived in Waldrath as early as the 13th century. It is possible that the name originated as a reference to this particular location.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Hans Walrath was documented as a respected member of the guilds in the city of Cologne. His son, Johann Walrath, born in 1472, went on to become a renowned scholar and theologian, serving as a professor at the University of Cologne.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, many individuals with the surname Walrath emigrated from Germany to the American colonies, particularly to Pennsylvania and New York. One notable figure was Johann Walrath, who arrived in New York in the early 1700s and established a successful farming community in the Hudson Valley region.

Another individual of historical significance was Friedrich Walrath, born in 1785 in Hesse, Germany. He served as a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars before emigrating to the United States in 1820. Friedrich Walrath became a prominent figure in the German-American community of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was involved in various civic and cultural organizations.

In the 19th century, Jacob Walrath, born in 1832 in Pennsylvania, gained recognition as a skilled woodworker and furniture maker. His intricate designs and craftsmanship were highly sought after, and his pieces are now considered valuable antiques.

Throughout its history, the surname Walrath has been associated with various occupations, from farmers and craftsmen to scholars and community leaders. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by generations of families who have contributed to the rich tapestry of cultural and historical narratives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Walrath

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

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

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

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