Claim profile
1500–1599

The 16th century

Whose working lives fell in the 16th century. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 16th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

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FieldAllHistorical FiguresWritersPoliticiansArtistsAcademicsReligious FiguresMusiciansScientistsModelsActors
  1. 1Tokugawa IeyasuTokugawa Ieyasu1543–1616 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures8 decades
  2. 2Oda NobunagaOda Nobunaga1534–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures8 decades
  3. 3Toyotomi HideyoshiToyotomi Hideyoshi1537–1598 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians8 decades
  4. 4YasukeYasukeborn 1555 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Religious Figures1 decades
  5. 5Hattori HanzōHattori Hanzō1542–1597 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  6. 6Akechi MitsuhideAkechi Mitsuhide1516–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  7. 7Takeda ShingenTakeda Shingen1521–1573 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  8. 8Ishida MitsunariIshida Mitsunari1559–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  9. 9Uesugi KenshinUesugi Kenshin1530–1578 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  10. 10Sen no RikyūSen no Rikyū1522–1591 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  11. 11Paulo MikiPaulo Miki1564–1597 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  12. 12Ishikawa GoemonIshikawa Goemon1558–1594 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  13. 13ŌgimachiŌgimachi1517–1593 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  14. 14Imagawa YoshimotoImagawa Yoshimoto1519–1560 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  15. 15Katō KiyomasaKatō Kiyomasa1562–1611 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  16. 16Go-NaraGo-Nara1497–1557 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  17. 17Justo TakayamaJusto Takayama1552–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  18. 18Honda TadakatsuHonda Tadakatsu1548–1610 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  19. 19Mōri MotonariMōri Motonari1497–1571 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  20. 20Ashikaga YoshiakiAshikaga Yoshiaki1537–1597 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  21. 21Shimazu YoshihiroShimazu Yoshihiro1535–1619 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  22. 22Takeda KatsuyoriTakeda Katsuyori1546–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  23. 23Kanō EitokuKanō Eitoku1543–1590 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  24. 24Maeda ToshiieMaeda Toshiie1538–1599 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  25. 25Konishi YukinagaKonishi Yukinaga1558–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  26. 26Oda NobuhideOda Nobuhide1511–1551 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  27. 27Mōri TerumotoMōri Terumoto1553–1625 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  28. 28OichiOichi1547–1583 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  29. 29Hosokawa GraciaHosokawa Gracia1563–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  30. 30Hasegawa TōhakuHasegawa Tōhaku1539–1610 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  31. 31Azai NagamasaAzai Nagamasa1545–1573 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  32. 32Ashikaga YoshiteruAshikaga Yoshiteru1536–1565 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  33. 33Oda NobutadaOda Nobutada1557–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  34. 34Oda NobutakaOda Nobutaka1558–1583 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  35. 35Kuroda YoshitakaKuroda Yoshitaka1546–1604 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  36. 36Mori RanmaruMori Ranmaru1565–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  37. 37Matsunaga HisahideMatsunaga Hisahide1508–1577 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  38. 38Fukushima MasanoriFukushima Masanori1561–1624 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  39. 39Sanada MasayukiSanada Masayuki1547–1611 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  40. 40Shibata KatsuieShibata Katsuie1522–1583 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  41. 41Hosokawa TadaokiHosokawa Tadaoki1563–1646 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  42. 42Naoe KanetsuguNaoe Kanetsugu1560–1620 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  43. 43Araki MurashigeAraki Murashige1535–1586 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  44. 44Katagiri KatsumotoKatagiri Katsumoto1556–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  45. 45Sanada YukitakaSanada Yukitaka1512–1574 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  46. 46Yamauchi KazutoyoYamauchi Kazutoyo1545–1605 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  47. 47Konoe SakihisaKonoe Sakihisa1536–1612 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  48. 48Ankokuji EkeiAnkokuji Ekei1539–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  49. 49Anayama NobutadaAnayama Nobutada1541–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  50. 50Ii NaomasaIi Naomasa1561–1602 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  51. 51Ōtani YoshitsuguŌtani Yoshitsugu1559–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  52. 52Yamamoto KansukeYamamoto Kansuke1493–1561 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  53. 53Saitō DōsanSaitō Dōsan1494–1556 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  54. 54Saitō TatsuokiSaitō Tatsuoki1548–1573 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  55. 55Matsudaira NobuyasuMatsudaira Nobuyasu1559–1579 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  56. 56Lady SaigōLady Saigō1552–1589 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  57. 57Uesugi KagekatsuUesugi Kagekatsu1556–1623 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  58. 58Ōuchi YoshitakaŌuchi Yoshitaka1507–1551 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  59. 59Sakai TadatsuguSakai Tadatsugu1527–1596 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  60. 60Oda NagamasuOda Nagamasu1548–1622 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  61. 61Honami KōetsuHonami Kōetsu1558–1637 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  62. 62MMuramasaborn 1500 · 🇯🇵 Japan1 decades
  63. 63Tōdō TakatoraTōdō Takatora1556–1630 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  64. 64Kuki YoshitakaKuki Yoshitaka1542–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  65. 65Ashikaga YoshiharuAshikaga Yoshiharu1511–1550 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  66. 66Torii MototadaTorii Mototada1539–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  67. 67Takenaka ShigeharuTakenaka Shigeharu1544–1579 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  68. 68AnjirōAnjirō1512–1550 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  69. 69Chōsokabe MotochikaChōsokabe Motochika1539–1599 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  70. 70Takeda NobushigeTakeda Nobushige1525–1561 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  71. 71Ashikaga YoshihideAshikaga Yoshihide1538–1568 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  72. 72KōsaKōsa1543–1592 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  73. 73Takigawa KazumasuTakigawa Kazumasu1525–1586 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  74. 74Toyotomi HidetsuguToyotomi Hidetsugu1568–1595 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  75. 75ONOda Nobuyuki1536–1558 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  76. 76Wakizaka YasuharuWakizaka Yasuharu1554–1626 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  77. 77Oda NobukatsuOda Nobukatsu1558–1630 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  78. 78Hirano NagayasuHirano Nagayasu1559–1628 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  79. 79Ōtomo SōrinŌtomo Sōrin1530–1587 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  80. 80Imagawa UjizaneImagawa Ujizane1538–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  81. 81Sassa NarimasaSassa Narimasa1536–1588 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  82. 82Hōjō UjimasaHōjō Ujimasa1538–1590 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  83. 83Kamiizumi NobutsunaKamiizumi Nobutsuna1508–1577 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  84. 84Hosokawa FujitakaHosokawa Fujitaka1534–1610 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  85. 85Tsukahara BokudenTsukahara Bokuden1489–1571 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  86. 86Kōsaka MasanobuKōsaka Masanobu1527–1578 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  87. 87Ōmura SumitadaŌmura Sumitada1533–1587 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  88. 88Asano NagamasaAsano Nagamasa1547–1611 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  89. 89Hōjō UjiyasuHōjō Ujiyasu1515–1571 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  90. 90Katō YoshiakiKatō Yoshiaki1563–1631 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  91. 91Ashikaga YoshitaneAshikaga Yoshitane1466–1523 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  92. 92Shimazu TakahisaShimazu Takahisa1514–1571 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  93. 93Kanō MotonobuKanō Motonobu1476–1559 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  94. 94Fujiwara SeikaFujiwara Seika1561–1619 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  95. 95Niwa NagahideNiwa Nagahide1535–1585 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  96. 96Hōjō UjinaoHōjō Ujinao1562–1591 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  97. 97Shima SakonShima Sakon1540–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  98. 98MHMatsudaira Hirotada1526–1549 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  99. 99Ashikaga YoshizumiAshikaga Yoshizumi1481–1511 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  100. 100Toyotomi HidenagaToyotomi Hidenaga1540–1591 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.