1870–1879
The 1870s
Whose names filled the books of the 1870s — anyone at all, however long dead — counted as mentions per million words printed, so a period that simply published more does not inflate anyone.
Talked about then
Whose names appeared most in German books during the 1870s — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish14,075German3,121French2,919Italian1,652Spanish982Russian180Hebrew93Chinese2
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Frederick William of Saxe-Meiningen1679–1746 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4
- 2
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 3
Frederick William, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen1663–1735 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 4
Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1700–1771 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany8.4 - 5
Maria Theresa1717–1780 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures5.3 - 6
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1418–1478 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.9 - 7
Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden1857–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures3.9 - 8
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1676–1732 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians3.9 - 9
Frederick II, Elector Palatine1482–1556 · 16th century3.9 - 10
Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1633–1708 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.9 - 11
Frederick II of Legnica1480–1547 · 16th century3.9 - 12
Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg1417–1477 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.1 - 13HIHenry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1397–1427 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.1
- 14HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1460–1526 · 15th century · Historical Figures3.1
- 15
John George, Elector of Brandenburg1525–1598 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.3
- 16
Johann Georg, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels1677–1712 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.3 - 17
William III, Landgrave of Hesse1471–1500 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.1 - 18
William III1425–1482 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.1 - 19WIWilliam III, Count of Weimar1000–1039 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.1
- 20
John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg1582–1628 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.1 - 21
John Frederick, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt1721–1767 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.1
- 22
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1625–1679 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.1 - 23
John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1654–1686 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models2.1 - 24
John Frederick, Count Palatine of Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein1587–1644 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.1 - 25
John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania1542–1600 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.1
- 26
Jean Paul1763–1825 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers2.0 - 27
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein1853–1938 · 19th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politicians1.9 - 28
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316–1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.8 - 29HIHenry II, Duke of Limburg1110–1167 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.7
- 30
Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera1572–1635 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.7 - 31
Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1489–1568 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.7 - 32HIHenry II, Margrave of Meissen1103–1123 · 12th century · Models1.7
- 33
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria951–995 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.7 - 34
Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse1299–1376 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.7 - 35HIHenry II, Count of Gorizia1150–1150 · 12th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.7
- 36HIHenry II of Augsburg1001–1063 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1.7
- 37HIHenry II, Lord of Mecklenburg1262–1329 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.7
- 38
Henry III1215–1288 · 13th century · Writers1.6 - 39
Henry III, Count of Sayn1193–1247 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6 - 40
Henry III, Duke of Limburg1167–1221 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6 - 41HIHenry III, Duke of Mecklenburg1337–1383 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6
- 42HIHenry III, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1300–1307 · 14th century · Religious Figures1.6
- 43
Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse1440–1483 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.6 - 44
Henry III of Nassau-Breda1483–1538 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 45HIHenry III, Duke of Bavaria940–989 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6
- 46HIHenry III, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1416–1464 · 15th century1.6
- 47
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg1371–1440 · 15th century1.6 - 48
Duke Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt1831–1904 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.6 - 49
Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1585–1638 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 50
Frederick I of Liegnitz1446–1488 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6
- 51
Frederick I1425–1476 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.6 - 52
Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden1826–1907 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 53
Frederick I of Prussia1657–1713 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.6 - 54
Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1357–1400 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6 - 55
Frederick I, Count Palatine of Simmern1417–1480 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 56
Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1646–1691 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.6 - 57
Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633–1695 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.5 - 58
Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652–1698 · 17th century · Politicians1.5 - 59
William, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg1648–1725 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 60
William I, Elector of Hesse1743–1821 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 61
William I, German Emperor1797–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3
- 62WIWilliam I of Weimar900–963 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3
- 63
William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen1487–1559 · 16th century1.3 - 64
Wilhelm I of Württemberg1781–1864 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 65
William I1343–1407 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 66
William the Silent1533–1584 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.3 - 67
William I, Duke of Bavaria1330–1389 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.3 - 68
Hans Sachs1494–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.3 - 69
Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg1711–1785 · 18th century · Models1.3 - 70
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1734–1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 71
Frederick Augustus, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt1654–1716 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 72
Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg1852–1931 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 73
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Oels1740–1805 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 74
William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532–1592 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists1.3 - 75
Frederick III, Margrave of Baden1327–1353 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 76
Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1673–1746 · 18th century · Politicians1.3 - 77
Frederick III, Burgrave of Nuremberg1220–1297 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 78
Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1597–1659 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 79
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1699–1772 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3
- 80
Frederick III of the Palatinate1515–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 81
Friedrich III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1711–1763 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 82
Frederick III, Prince of Salm-Kyrburg1744–1794 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 83
Frederick III, German Emperor1831–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.3 - 84
Frederick III of Legnica1520–1570 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 85PIPhilip II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1533–1596 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 86
Philip II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe1723–1787 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.2 - 87
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania1573–1618 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.2
- 88PIPhilip II, Count of Waldeck1453–1524 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 89
Philip II, Margrave of Baden-Baden1559–1588 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.2 - 90PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1462–1504 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2
- 91PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg1501–1529 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 92
Richard Wagner1813–1883 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians1.2 - 93
Frederick William IV of Prussia1795–1861 · 19th century · Politicians1.1 - 94
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741–1790 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.1 - 95
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria1529–1595 · 16th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 96
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor1578–1637 · 17th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 97
Ferdinand II of Portugal1816–1885 · 19th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 98
Ferdinand I of Romania1865–1927 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 99
Henry V, Count of Luxembourg1216–1281 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 100HVHenry V, Duke of Bavaria960–1026 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.0
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1870s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Friedrich Nietzsche1844–1900 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics15 decades - 2
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky1840–1893 · Musicians10 decades - 3
Émile Zola1840–1902 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades - 4
Sarah Bernhardt1844–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Actors15 decades - 5
Claude Monet1840–1926 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists14 decades - 6
Mark Twain1835–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers16 decades - 7
Paul Cézanne1839–1906 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists12 decades - 8
Edward VII1841–1910 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures13 decades - 9
Pope Pius X1835–1914 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures12 decades - 10
William McKinley1843–1901 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians16 decades - 11
Empress Dowager Cixi1835–1908 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures5 decades
- 12
Antonín Dvořák1841–1904 · Musicians0 decades - 13
Bertha von Suttner1843–1914 · Writers13 decades - 14
John D. Rockefeller1839–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders14 decades - 15
Pierre-Auguste Renoir1841–1919 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists12 decades - 16
Georges Clemenceau1841–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians13 decades - 17
Paul Verlaine1844–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades - 18
Leopold II of Belgium1835–1909 · Historical Figures9 decades - 19
Empress Elisabeth of Austria1837–1898 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades - 20
Giosuè Carducci1835–1907 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers17 decades - 21
Grover Cleveland1837–1908 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians14 decades - 22
Robert Koch1843–1910 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors14 decades - 23
Auguste Rodin1840–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists14 decades - 24
Peter Kropotkin1842–1921 · Activists11 decades - 25
Ilya Repin1844–1930 · Artists10 decades - 26
Anatole France1844–1924 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades - 27
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov1844–1908 · Musicians9 decades - 28
Karl Benz1844–1929 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists11 decades - 29
Edvard Grieg1843–1907 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Musicians12 decades - 30
Modest Mussorgsky1839–1881 · Musicians11 decades - 31
Georges Bizet1838–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 32
Umberto I of Italy1844–1900 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures14 decades - 33
Andrew Carnegie1835–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics14 decades - 34
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer1836–1870 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers13 decades - 35
Alphonse Daudet1840–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers16 decades - 36
Camille Saint-Saëns1835–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 37
J. P. Morgan1837–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades - 38
Abdul Hamid II1842–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures13 decades - 39
Benito Pérez Galdós1843–1920 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers14 decades - 40
Karl May1842–1912 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers14 decades - 41
Bernadette Soubirous1844–1879 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures15 decades - 42
Henry James1843–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Writers18 decades - 43
William James1842–1910 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics18 decades - 44
Stéphane Mallarmé1842–1898 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers14 decades - 45
Berthe Morisot1841–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists13 decades - 46
Henri Rousseau1844–1910 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists12 decades - 47
Thomas Hardy1840–1928 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers18 decades - 48
Ludwig Boltzmann1844–1906 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Scientists15 decades - 49
Gustave Le Bon1841–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics15 decades - 50
August Bebel1840–1913 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians14 decades - 51
Ernst Mach1838–1916 · Scientists16 decades - 52
Sadi Carnot1837–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians16 decades - 53
George Armstrong Custer1839–1876 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figures7 decades - 54
Félix Faure1841–1899 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians18 decades - 55
Mary Cassatt1844–1926 · 🇺🇸 United States · Artists12 decades - 56
Henry Morton Stanley1841–1904 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalists7 decades - 57
Alois Hitler1837–1903 · 🇦🇹 Austria8 decades - 58
Alexandra of Denmark1844–1925 · Historical Figures2 decades - 59
Ramakrishna1836–1886 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics14 decades - 60
Rosalía de Castro1837–1885 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers13 decades - 61
Giovanni Verga1840–1922 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers15 decades - 62
Alfred Sisley1839–1899 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists9 decades - 63
Victoria, Princess Royal1840–1901 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Artists0 decades - 64
Cesare Lombroso1835–1909 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Doctors16 decades - 65
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Journalists13 decades - 66
Nikolay Przhevalsky1839–1888 · Historical Figures9 decades - 67
Leopold von Sacher-Masoch1836–1895 · Writers5 decades - 68
Charles Sanders Peirce1839–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Academics9 decades - 69
Léon Gambetta1838–1882 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians15 decades - 70
Crazy Horse1849–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Politicians15 decades
- 71
Mehmed V1844–1918 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades - 72
Arkhip Kuindzhi1841–1910 · Artists2 decades - 73
Giovanni Giolitti1842–1928 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians14 decades - 74
Vasily Vereshchagin1842–1904 · Artists8 decades - 75
Mily Balakirev1836–1910 · Musicians9 decades - 76
Armand Fallières1841–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians12 decades - 77
John Muir1838–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Scientists19 decades - 78
Jules Massenet1842–1912 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 79
Ivan Kramskoi1837–1887 · Artists11 decades - 80
Wilhelm Steinitz1836–1900 · 🇺🇸 United States · Athletes0 decades - 81
Odilon Redon1840–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists14 decades - 82
Liliʻuokalani1838–1917 · 🇺🇸 United States · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 83
Émile Loubet1838–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians11 decades - 84
Ferdinand von Zeppelin1838–1917 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Scientists5 decades - 85
Murad V1840–1904 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models0 decades - 86
Tongzhi Emperor1856–1875 · 🇨🇳 Chinanot measured— - 87
Carol I of Romania1839–1914 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures19 decades - 88
Frederick VIII of Denmark1843–1912 · Historical Figures0 decades - 89
Carlota of Mexico1840–1927 · Historical Figures0 decades - 90
Princess Alice of the United Kingdom1843–1878 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured— - 91
Menelik II1844–1913 · Politicians14 decades - 92
Léo Delibes1836–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 93
Paul Morphy1837–1884 · 🇺🇸 United States7 decades - 94
Itō Hirobumi1841–1909 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades - 95
Comte de Lautréamont1846–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers8 decades - 96
Paul Lafargue1842–1911 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades - 97
Louis Riel1844–1885 · 🇨🇦 Canada · Politicians15 decades - 98
Machado de Assis1839–1908 · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Writers0 decades - 99
Max Bruch1838–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians17 decades - 100
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad1835–1908 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics4 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.