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← Fame through time1880-1889

The 1880s

Whose names filled the books of the 1880s - 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 1880s, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures4.2
  2. 2Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers2.3
  3. 3Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.8
  4. 4Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers1.8
  5. 5Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.7
  6. 6Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians1.6
  7. 7William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists1.6
  8. 8Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians1.5
  9. 9Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians1.4
  10. 10Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians1.1
  11. 11Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures1.1
  12. 12Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers1.1
  13. 13Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers1.0
  14. 14Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures1.0
  15. 15Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.95
  16. 16Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.94
  17. 17Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors0.94
  18. 18Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.88
  19. 19George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models0.75
  20. 20Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.70
  21. 21Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.67
  22. 22Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers0.67
  23. 23Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.65
  24. 24Conradin1252-1268 · 13th century · Germany · Musicians0.63
  25. 25Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.60
  26. 26Louis Philip, Count Palatine of Simmern-Kaiserslautern1602-1655 · 17th century · Germany0.59
  27. 27Catherine the Great1729-1796 · 18th century · Russia · Historical Figures0.56
  28. 28Charles XII of Sweden1682-1718 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.55
  29. 29Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor1768-1835 · 19th century0.54
  30. 30Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.53
  31. 31Kuno Fischer1824-1907 · 19th century · Academics0.47
  32. 32Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor1678-1711 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.47
  33. 33Władysław of Głogów1420-1460 · 15th century · Germany0.47
  34. 34Viktor Meyer1848-1897 · 19th century · Scientists0.46
  35. 35Fritz Müller1822-1897 · 19th century · Brazil · Scientists0.45
  36. 36Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.45
  37. 37Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.44
  38. 38Julius Lothar Meyer1830-1895 · 19th century · Scientists0.43
  39. 39Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1579-1666 · 17th century · Germany · Writers0.42
  40. 40John Louis of Nassau-Hadamar1590-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.41
  41. 41Heinrich Frauenlob1255-1318 · 13th century · Writers0.41
  42. 42Frederick of Saxony1474-1510 · 16th century · Germany0.40
  43. 43Duke Heinrich Julius I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1564-1613 · 16th century · Writers0.40
  44. 44Moses Mendelssohn1729-1786 · 18th century · Germany · Academics0.39
  45. 45Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor1697-1745 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.38
  46. 46Philip V, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1541-1599 · 16th century · Germany0.35
  47. 47Paul Heyse1830-1914 · 19th century · Writers0.35
  48. 48Justus Perthes1749-1816 · 18th century0.35
  49. 49Ulrich von Hutten1488-1523 · 16th century · Germany · Academics0.34
  50. 50Fritz Reuter1810-1874 · 19th century · Writers0.34
  51. 51Franz Liszt1811-1886 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.33
  52. 52Philip IV, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1514-1590 · 16th century · Germany0.32
  53. 53John of Bohemia1296-1346 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.32
  54. 54Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.32
  55. 55Felix Dahn1834-1912 · 19th century · Writers0.30
  56. 56Carl Ritter1779-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.29
  57. 57Francis Anthony, Count of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch1657-1702 · 17th century · Germany0.29
  58. 58Otto of Freising1111-1158 · 12th century · Germany · Writers0.28
  59. 59Otto Henry1502-1559 · 16th century · Germany0.28
  60. 60Konrad von Würzburg1225-1287 · 13th century · Writers0.26
  61. 61Gustav Freytag1816-1895 · 19th century · Writers0.26
  62. 62Wilhelm Müller1794-1827 · 19th century · Writers0.26
  63. 63Beatus Rhenanus1485-1547 · 16th century · Academics0.26
  64. 64Franz von Sickingen1481-1523 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.26
  65. 65Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg1505-1571 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.25
  66. 66Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden1407-1453 · 15th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.25
  67. 67Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden1710-1771 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.25
  68. 68Ludger742-809 · 8th century · Writers0.24
  69. 69Peter I of Oldenburg1755-1829 · 18th century · Politicians0.24
  70. 70Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken1722-1775 · 18th century · Germany0.24
  71. 71Nicholas I of Werle1210-1277 · 13th century · Germany0.23
  72. 72Robert Schumann1810-1856 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.23
  73. 73Adolf of Germany1255-1298 · 13th century0.23
  74. 74Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg1546-1608 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.23
  75. 75Ludwig Uhland1787-1862 · 19th century · Writers0.22
  76. 76Heinrich von Kleist1777-1811 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.22
  77. 77Hartmann von Aue1160-1210 · 12th century · Germany · Writers0.22
  78. 78Prince Albert of Prussia1809-1872 · 19th century · Politicians0.22
  79. 79Otto Henry, Count Palatine of Sulzbach1556-1604 · 16th century · Germany0.22
  80. 80Franz Schubert1797-1828 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.22
  81. 81Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.21
  82. 82John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg1572-1619 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.21
  83. 83Eoban699-754 · 8th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.21
  84. 84Hedwig of Swabia950-994 · 10th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.21
  85. 85Augustus III of Poland1696-1763 · 18th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.21
  86. 86Christian William I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen1647-1721 · 17th century · Germany0.21
  87. 87Julius von Mayer1814-1878 · 19th century · Germany · Scientists0.20
  88. 88Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria1636-1679 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.20
  89. 89Theodor Körner1791-1813 · 19th century · Writers0.20
  90. 90John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen1638-1704 · 17th century · Germany0.20
  91. 91Immanuel Kant1724-1804 · 18th century · Academics0.20
  92. 92William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1602-1637 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.20
  93. 93Ernst Curtius1814-1896 · 19th century · Academics0.20
  94. 94Nicholas V of Werleborn 1400 · 15th century · Germany0.20
  95. 95Otto Ludwig1813-1865 · 19th century · Writers0.20
  96. 96Arthur Schopenhauer1788-1860 · 19th century · Academics0.20
  97. 97Albert IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg1315-1343 · 14th century · Germany · Models0.19
  98. 98Georg Ebers1837-1898 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  99. 99Count Anton Alexander von Auersperg1806-1876 · 19th century · Politicians0.19
  100. 100Gottfried Keller1819-1890 · 19th century · Switzerland · Writers0.19

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 1880s, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Vincent van Gogh1853-1890 · Netherlands · Artists12 decades
  2. 2Oscar Wilde1854-1900 · Ireland · Writers14 decades
  3. 3Thomas Edison1847-1931 · United States · Scientists13 decades
  4. 4Alexander Graham Bell1847-1922 · United States · Scientists15 decades
  5. 5Arthur Rimbaud1854-1891 · France · Writers14 decades
  6. 6Antoni Gaudí1852-1926 · Spain · Architects5 decades
  7. 7Robert Louis Stevenson1850-1894 · United Kingdom · Writers15 decades
  8. 8Guy de Maupassant1850-1893 · France · Writers14 decades
  9. 9Paul von Hindenburg1847-1934 · Germany · Politicians10 decades
  10. 10Alexander III of Russia1845-1894 · Russia · Historical Figures16 decades
  11. 11Paul Gauguin1848-1903 · France · Artists13 decades
  12. 12Bram Stoker1847-1912 · Ireland · Writers12 decades
  13. 13Emperor Meiji1852-1912 · Japan · Historical Figures11 decades
  14. 14Ivan Pavlov1849-1936 · Russia · Scientists16 decades
  15. 15Cecil Rhodes1853-1902 · United Kingdom · Politicians12 decades
  16. 16Wilhelm Röntgen1845-1923 · Germany · Scientists11 decades
  17. 17Pope Benedict XV1854-1922 · Italy · Religious Figures11 decades
  18. 18José Martí1853-1895 · Spain · Writers16 decades
  19. 19Ludwig II of Bavaria1845-1886 · Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  20. 20Billy the Kid1859-1881 · United States12 decades
  21. 21Henri Poincaré1854-1912 · France · Academics13 decades
  22. 22H. H. Asquith1852-1928 · United Kingdom · Politicians11 decades
  23. 23Ferdinand Foch1851-1929 · France · Historical Figures7 decades
  24. 24Annie Besant1847-1933 · United Kingdom · Activists15 decades
  25. 25George I of Greece1845-1913 · Denmark · Historical Figures0 decades
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.