Show ContentsUrban History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Urban family

The surname Urban was first found in Austria, where the name Urban became noted for its many branches in the region, each house acquiring a status and influence which was envied by the princes of the region. In their later history the name became a power unto themselves and were elevated to the ranks of nobility as they grew into this most influential family.

Early History of the Urban family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Urban research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1808, 1851 and 1878 are included under the topic Early Urban History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Urban Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Urban, Urrban, Urbban, Urbann, Urbaan, Urbane, Urbanes, Urbans, Urbanns, Urbaans, Erban, Irban, Erbane and many more.

Early Notables of the Urban family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Urban were

  • the Urban family of Austria

Urban Ranking

In the United States, the name Urban is the 2,335th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Urban is ranked the 6,774th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. [2]


United States Urban migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Urban Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Augustus Urban, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 [3]
  • Johan Lewis Urban, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1791 [3]
Urban Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adam Urban, who settled in Philadelphia in 1819
  • Franz Urban, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1845 [3]
  • Johannes Urban, who landed in Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Everhard" [3]
  • Mrs. Urban, German with 4 children who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Everhard"
  • Maria Urban, who landed in Texas in 1854 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Urban migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Urban Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Urban, (b. 1841), aged 34, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Helen Denny" arriving in Hawkes Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand on 20th September 1875 [4]
  • Mrs. Emily Urban, (b. 1849), aged 26, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Helen Denny" arriving in Hawkes Bay, Napier, North Island, New Zealand on 20th September 1875 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Urban (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Maria Urban (1872-1933), American architect and scene designer
  • Jerheme Urban (b. 1980), American professional football player
  • Matt Urban (1919-1995), American who was the most decorated soldier in U.S. military history, receiving 29 medals and awards for bravery during his 20 months of service in Europe during World War II
  • Paul Urban, American Republican politician, Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Milwaukee County 2nd District, 1956 [5]
  • Justin C. Urban, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Newington, 1940 [5]
  • J. Scott Urban, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 2004 [5]
  • George P. Urban, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1912 (alternate), 1916, 1924, 1928, 1932 [5]
  • George John Urban (1906-1978), American Republican politician, Mayor of South Euclid, Ohio, 1948-72 [5]
  • George Urban Jr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1884; Presidential Elector for New York, 1896, 1900 [5]
  • Frank W. Urban, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 7th District, 1961 [5]
  • ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Stanislaus Urban (b. 1867), "Stanley", Polish coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died [6]
  • Mr. Peter Urban, Polish coal miner who was at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed;he survived and tried to protect his brother Stanislaus [6]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).


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