Warhol
A surname derived from the Polish word for "pot maker" or "pottery craftsman".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Warhol. That puts it at #61,123 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Warhol surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#61,123
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
329
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 329 bearers of the surname Warhol in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 61123rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Warhol, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.1%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Warhol
The surname Warhol originated in eastern Slovakia, an area that was historically part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is believed to be derived from the Slovak word "varhol," meaning "mountain top" or "hillock," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived on or near a hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in church records from the village of Medzilaborce in northeastern Slovakia, dating back to the late 18th century. The name was often spelled "Varhola" or "Varchola" in these early documents.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Slovaks emigrated to the United States, and it was during this period that the name Warhol likely took on its current spelling. The earliest known American with the surname Warhol was Andrej Varchola, who arrived in the United States from Slovakia in 1909 and anglicized his name to Andrew Warhol.
The most famous bearer of the Warhol name was undoubtedly Andy Warhol (1928-1987), the pioneering American artist and leading figure in the pop art movement. Born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Slovak immigrant parents, he later dropped the letter "a" from his surname.
Other notable individuals with the surname Warhol include:
1. John Warhol (1925-2010), brother of Andy Warhol and an accomplished artist and illustrator.
2. James Warhola (1927-1987), another brother of Andy Warhol and a successful children's book author and illustrator.
3. Paul Warhol (1917-2003), a third brother of Andy Warhol and a businessman.
4. Julia Warhola (1892-1972), Andy Warhol's mother, who was an artist and the inspiration for some of his works.
5. Pavol Varchola (1892-1982), a Slovak Catholic priest and theologian, who was distantly related to the Warhol family.
While the Warhol name has its roots in Slovakia, it has become internationally recognized due to the immense influence and legacy of Andy Warhol and his contributions to the art world.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Warhol
Among Census respondents with the surname Warhol, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.1%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Warhol bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Warhol surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.5%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Warhol surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,123 | #61,123 | 0.0% |
| Count | 329 | 329 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Warhol bearers went from 329 to 329 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #61,123 to #61,123.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Warhol
FAQ
Warhol surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Warhol?
The surname Warhol holds position #61,123 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Warhol surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Warhol, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.1%) and Hispanic (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.