Explore the Family Name Schmalz
The meaning of Schmalz
1. German: from Middle High German smalz ‘tallow, grease, fat’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a chandler. 2. Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname from German Schmalz or Yiddish shmalts ‘animal fat’. 3. Germanized form of Slovenian Šmalc, a surname of German origin (see 1 above). Some characteristic forenames: German Otto, Alois, Armin, Bernhard, Erwin, Gerhard, Gertraud, Guenter, Heinz, Ignatz, Kurt, Lothar.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Schmalz in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Schmalz has seen a slight decrease from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it had a ranking of 12,783 and a count of 2,213 individuals, translating to a proportion of 0.82 per 100,000 people. By 2010, the rank had slipped to 14,004 with a count of 2,151, making the proportion drop to 0.73 per 100,000. This marks a reduction in popularity by -9.55 in rank, and a -2.8 in count or -10.98 in proportion per 100,000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,783 | #14,004 | -9.55% |
| Count | 2,213 | 2,151 | -2.8% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.82 | 0.73 | -10.98% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Schmalz
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest group identifying with the Schmalz surname is overwhelmingly White, at 97.61% in 2000 and slightly lower at 96.33% in 2010. However, other ethnic identities have shown an increase during this period. The Asian/Pacific Islander group saw a significant rise of 121.74%, growing from 0.23% to 0.51%. Similarly, those identifying as two or more races increased by 37.04%, moving from 0.54% to 0.74%. Lastly, the percentage of Hispanic individuals with the Schmalz surname also grew from 1.36% to 1.91%, marking a 40.44% increase. It's worth noting that the data reported no Black, American Indian, or Alaskan Native individuals identifying with this surname for both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.61% | 96.33% | -1.31% |
| Hispanic | 1.36% | 1.91% | 40.44% |
| Two or More Races | 0.54% | 0.74% | 37.04% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.23% | 0.51% | 121.74% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |