Claim profile
1600–1699

The 17th century

Whose working lives fell in the 17th 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 17th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇯🇵 Japan🇹🇷 Turkey🇳🇱 Netherlands🇪🇸 Spain🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇳 China
FieldAllWritersPoliticiansHistorical FiguresArtistsAcademicsScientistsMusiciansReligious FiguresActorsModels
  1. 1Miyamoto MusashiMiyamoto Musashi1584–1645 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics2 decades
  2. 2KoxingaKoxinga1624–1662 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians10 decades
  3. 3Matsuo BashōMatsuo Bashō1644–1694 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  4. 4Date MasamuneDate Masamune1567–1636 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  5. 5Hasekura TsunenagaHasekura Tsunenaga1571–1622 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  6. 6Sasaki KojirōSasaki Kojirō1584–1612 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Directorsnot measured—
  7. 7Tokugawa IemitsuTokugawa Iemitsu1604–1651 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  8. 8Emperor ReigenEmperor Reigen1654–1732 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  9. 9Tokugawa HidetadaTokugawa Hidetada1579–1632 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  10. 10Toyotomi HideyoriToyotomi Hideyori1593–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  11. 11Go-YōzeiGo-Yōzei1571–1617 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  12. 12Tokugawa TsunayoshiTokugawa Tsunayoshi1646–1709 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  13. 13Empress MeishōEmpress Meishō1624–1696 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  14. 14Chikamatsu MonzaemonChikamatsu Monzaemon1653–1725 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  15. 15Emperor Go-MizunooEmperor Go-Mizunoo1596–1680 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  16. 16Ihara SaikakuIhara Saikaku1642–1693 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  17. 17Yamamoto TsunetomoYamamoto Tsunetomo1659–1719 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  18. 18Izumo no OkuniIzumo no Okuniborn 1572 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  19. 19Sanada YukimuraSanada Yukimura1567–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  20. 20Go-SaiGo-Sai1638–1685 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  21. 21Go-KōmyōGo-Kōmyō1633–1654 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Modelsnot measured—
  22. 22Tokugawa IetsunaTokugawa Ietsuna1641–1680 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  23. 23Hishikawa MoronobuHishikawa Moronobu1618–1694 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  24. 24Takakazu SekiTakakazu Seki1642–1708 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  25. 25Amakusa ShirōAmakusa Shirō1621–1638 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  26. 26Tokugawa IenobuTokugawa Ienobu1662–1712 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  27. 27OKOgata Kōrin1658–1716 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  28. 28Arai HakusekiArai Hakuseki1657–1725 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  29. 29Ukita HideieUkita Hideie1572–1655 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  30. 30Kobayakawa HideakiKobayakawa Hideaki1577–1602 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  31. 31TSTawara Sōtatsu1570–1643 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  32. 32Yodo-donoYodo-dono1569–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  33. 33Hayashi RazanHayashi Razan1583–1657 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  34. 34Takuan SōhōTakuan Sōhō1573–1646 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  35. 35OKOgata Kenzan1663–1743 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  36. 36Yagyū MunenoriYagyū Munenori1571–1646 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  37. 37Tokugawa MitsukuniTokugawa Mitsukuni1628–1701 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  38. 38Tachibana GinchiyoTachibana Ginchiyo1569–1602 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  39. 39Arima HarunobuArima Harunobu1567–1612 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  40. 40Satake YoshinobuSatake Yoshinobu1570–1633 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  41. 41Sō YoshitoshiSō Yoshitoshi1568–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  42. 42Kaibara EkkenKaibara Ekken1630–1714 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  43. 43Yūki HideyasuYūki Hideyasu1574–1607 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  44. 44Kuroda NagamasaKuroda Nagamasa1568–1623 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  45. 45Kanō Tan'yūKanō Tan'yū1602–1674 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  46. 46Yamada NagamasaYamada Nagamasa1590–1630 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  47. 47Ikeda TerumasaIkeda Terumasa1565–1613 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  48. 48SenhimeSenhime1597–1666 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  49. 49Yamazaki AnsaiYamazaki Ansai1619–1682 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  50. 50Iwasa MatabēIwasa Matabē1578–1650 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  51. 51Mancio ItōMancio Itō1570–1612 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured—
  52. 52Matsudaira TadateruMatsudaira Tadateru1592–1683 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  53. 53Matsudaira TadayoshiMatsudaira Tadayoshi1580–1607 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  54. 54Tokugawa YoshinaoTokugawa Yoshinao1601–1650 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  55. 55Tokugawa MasakoTokugawa Masako1607–1678 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  56. 56Yamaga SokōYamaga Sokō1622–1685 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  57. 57OeyoOeyo1573–1626 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  58. 58Nakae TōjuNakae Tōju1608–1648 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  59. 59Sanada NobuyukiSanada Nobuyuki1566–1658 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  60. 60Tokugawa TadanagaTokugawa Tadanaga1606–1634 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  61. 61Kira YoshinakaKira Yoshinaka1641–1703 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  62. 62KomatsuhimeKomatsuhime1573–1620 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  63. 63Oda HidenobuOda Hidenobu1580–1605 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  64. 64Akashi TakenoriAkashi Takenori1566–1618 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  65. 65Ōishi YoshioŌishi Yoshio1659–1703 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  66. 66Konoe NobutadaKonoe Nobutada1565–1614 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  67. 67Tokugawa YorinobuTokugawa Yorinobu1602–1671 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  68. 68Shimazu TadatsuneShimazu Tadatsune1576–1638 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  69. 69Hanabusa ItchōHanabusa Itchō1652–1724 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  70. 70Chōsokabe MorichikaChōsokabe Morichika1575–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  71. 71Date TadamuneDate Tadamune1600–1658 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  72. 72Lady KasugaLady Kasuga1579–1643 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  73. 73Mototsugu GotōMototsugu Gotō1565–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  74. 74ARAsai Ryōi1612–1691 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  75. 75Shibukawa ShunkaiShibukawa Shunkai1639–1715 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientists0 decades
  76. 76Takarai KikakuTakarai Kikaku1661–1707 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  77. 77Yagyū MitsuyoshiYagyū Mitsuyoshi1607–1650 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  78. 78Matsudaira TadanaoMatsudaira Tadanao1595–1650 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  79. 79Mōri HidemotoMōri Hidemoto1579–1650 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  80. 80Tokugawa YorifusaTokugawa Yorifusa1603–1661 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  81. 81Asano YoshinagaAsano Yoshinaga1576–1613 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  82. 82Doi ToshikatsuDoi Toshikatsu1573–1644 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  83. 83Torii KiyonobuTorii Kiyonobu1664–1729 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  84. 84Itō JinsaiItō Jinsai1627–1705 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  85. 85Nabeshima KatsushigeNabeshima Katsushige1580–1657 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  86. 86EnkūEnkū1632–1695 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  87. 87Tachibana MuneshigeTachibana Muneshige1567–1643 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  88. 88KeichūKeichū1640–1701 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  89. 89Hoshina MasayukiHoshina Masayuki1611–1673 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  90. 90Tosa MitsuokiTosa Mitsuoki1617–1691 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  91. 91Suzuki ShōsanSuzuki Shōsan1579–1655 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  92. 92TKToyotomi Kunimatsu1608–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  93. 93STShimazu Toyohisa1570–1600 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  94. 94Hidari JingorōHidari Jingorō1584–1645 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  95. 95Hachisuka YoshishigeHachisuka Yoshishige1586–1620 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  96. 96TNTakeda Nobuyoshi1583–1603 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  97. 97Bankei YōtakuBankei Yōtaku1622–1693 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  98. 98Matsukura ShigemasaMatsukura Shigemasa1574–1630 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  99. 99Matsunaga TeitokuMatsunaga Teitoku1571–1654 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  100. 100KNKonoe Nobuhiro1599–1649 · 🇯🇵 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.