Show ContentsBlumenthal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished family surname Blumenthal originated in the lands which eventually became the German state of Prussia. This state was known for its majestic landscape, its rapid industrial growth, its military power, and for its contributions to European culture. However, in the medieval era, Prussia was fragmented and inhabited by numerous barbarian tribes, who fought amongst themselves for control of the land. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms, which were established after the fall of the Roman Empire, changed repeatedly. The region that came to be known as Prussia was roughly divided between the territories of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia and East Prussia. The Blumenthal family emerged in Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany.

Early Origins of the Blumenthal family

The surname Blumenthal was first found in Brandenburg, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times; this family, according to chronicles, entered the region after the Wenden were driven out around 926 A.D. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Blumenthal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Blumenthal research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1609, 1650, 1657, 1701, 1728, 1810, 1829, 1846, 1848, 1864, 1883 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Blumenthal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Blumenthal Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Blumenthal include Blumenthal, Blumental, Blumenthaler, Blumentaler and others.

Early Notables of the Blumenthal family

Notable figures of the time with the name Blumenthal were

  • Joachim Friedrich von Blumenthal (1609-1657), a German nobleman, a diplomat and the founder of the Brandenburg-Prussian Army; and Count Leonhard von Blumenthal (1810-1900), who was Chief of Staff of t...
  • Jacob Blumenthal, born at Hamburg Oct. 4, 1829, pupil of F. W. Grund there, and of C. M. von Bocklet and Sechter in Vienna. His proficiency in pianoforte playing was attained under Herz at the Conserv...

Blumenthal Ranking

In the United States, the name Blumenthal is the 8,670th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Blumenthal migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Blumenthals to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Blumenthal Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Isodor Blumenthal, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1832
  • Joseph Blumenthal, who settled in Philadelphia in 1837
  • Dr. Blumenthal, who landed in Texas in 1845 [2]
  • Mr. F. G. Blumenthal, aged 25, German merchant who arrived in New Orleans in 1846 aboard the ship "Constitution"
  • Friedrich Blumenthal, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Blumenthal (post 1700) +

  • Werner Michael Blumenthal (b. 1926), American administrator, US Secretary of the Treasury (1977-1979)
  • Antje Blumenthal (b. 1947), German politician
  • Ludwig Otto Blumenthal (1876-1944), German mathematician
  • Oskar Blumenthal (1853-1917), German journalist, director, and playwright of Berlin
  • Naftali Blumenthal (1922-2022), Israeli politician, Member of the Knesset for the Alignment from 1981 until 1984
  • Leonhard Graf von Blumenthal (1810-1900), Prussian field marshal


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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