1800–1899
The 19th century
Whose names filled the books of the 19th century — 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 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
.jpg?width=1200)
Frederick William, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen1663–1735 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 2
Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1700–1771 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany8.4 - 3
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 4
Frederick William of Saxe-Meiningen1679–1746 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 5
Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden1857–1928 · 19th century · Historical Figures4.0 - 6
.jpg?width=1200)
Maria Theresa1717–1780 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures3.8 - 7
%2C_by_studio_of_Pieter_Nason.jpg?width=1200)
Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1633–1708 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.8 - 8
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1676–1732 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians3.8 - 9
Frederick II, Elector Palatine1482–1556 · 16th century3.8 - 10
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1418–1478 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.8 - 11
Frederick II of Legnica1480–1547 · 16th century3.8 - 12
John Frederick, Count Palatine of Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein1587–1644 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.9 - 13
John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania1542–1600 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.9 - 14
John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1654–1686 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models2.9 - 15
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1625–1679 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 16
John Frederick, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt1721–1767 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 17
John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg1582–1628 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 18
John George, Elector of Brandenburg1525–1598 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.7 - 19
Johann Georg, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels1677–1712 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.7 - 20HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1460–1526 · 15th century · Historical Figures2.5
- 21
Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg1417–1477 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.5 - 22HIHenry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1397–1427 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.5
- 23
Franz I, Prince of Liechtenstein1853–1938 · 19th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politicians1.9 - 24
Jean Paul1763–1825 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.8 - 25
Frederick Augustus, Duke of Württemberg-Neuenstadt1654–1716 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.8 - 26
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1734–1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.8 - 27
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Oels1740–1805 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.8 - 28
Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg1711–1785 · 18th century · Models1.8 - 29
Duke Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt1831–1904 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.7 - 30
Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden1826–1907 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.7 - 31
_1489-1568_01.jpg?width=1200)
Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1489–1568 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 32
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria951–995 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 33HIHenry II of Augsburg1001–1063 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1.6
- 34HIHenry II, Count of Gorizia1150–1150 · 12th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6
- 35
Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera1572–1635 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 36HIHenry II, Lord of Mecklenburg1262–1329 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 37HIHenry II, Margrave of Meissen1103–1123 · 12th century · Models1.6
- 38HIHenry II, Duke of Limburg1110–1167 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 39
Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse1299–1376 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 40
Frederick I, Count Palatine of Simmern1417–1480 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 41
Frederick I1425–1476 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 42
.png?width=1200)
Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1646–1691 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 43
Frederick I of Prussia1657–1713 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 44
Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1585–1638 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 45
Frederick I of Liegnitz1446–1488 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 46
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg1371–1440 · 15th century1.5 - 47
Frederick I, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1357–1400 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 48
Frederick III, German Emperor1831–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 49
Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg1852–1931 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 50HIHenry III, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1416–1464 · 15th century1.4
- 51
Henry III1215–1288 · 13th century · Writers1.4 - 52HIHenry III, Duke of Mecklenburg1337–1383 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4
- 53
Henry III, Count of Sayn1193–1247 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4 - 54
Henry III, Duke of Limburg1167–1221 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4 - 55HIHenry III, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1300–1307 · 14th century · Religious Figures1.4
- 56
Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse1440–1483 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.4 - 57
Henry III of Nassau-Breda1483–1538 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 58HIHenry III, Duke of Bavaria940–989 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4
- 59WIWilliam III, Count of Weimar1000–1039 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4
- 60
William III1425–1482 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 61
William III, Landgrave of Hesse1471–1500 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 62
Paracelsus1493–1541 · 16th century · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors1.4 - 63
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741–1790 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.3 - 64
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316–1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 65
Frederick III of Legnica1520–1570 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 66
Frederick III of the Palatinate1515–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 67
Frederick III, Prince of Salm-Kyrburg1744–1794 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 68
%2C_by_Jacob_Hauck.jpg?width=1200)
Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1673–1746 · 18th century · Politicians1.3 - 69
Frederick III, Margrave of Baden1327–1353 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 70
.jpg?width=1200)
Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1597–1659 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 71
Friedrich III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1711–1763 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 72
Frederick III, Burgrave of Nuremberg1220–1297 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 73
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1699–1772 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3 - 74
Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633–1695 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers1.2 - 75
Philip II, Margrave of Baden-Baden1559–1588 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.2 - 76PIPhilip II, Count of Waldeck1453–1524 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 77
Philip II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe1723–1787 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.2 - 78
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania1573–1618 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.2 - 79PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg1501–1529 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 80PIPhilip II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1533–1596 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 81PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1462–1504 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2
- 82
William the Silent1533–1584 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.1 - 83
William I, German Emperor1797–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 84
.jpg?width=1200)
William I1343–1407 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 85
William I, Elector of Hesse1743–1821 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 86WIWilliam I of Weimar900–963 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.1
- 87
William, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg1648–1725 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.1 - 88
William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen1487–1559 · 16th century1.1 - 89
Wilhelm I of Württemberg1781–1864 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.1 - 90
William I, Duke of Bavaria1330–1389 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.1 - 91
Carl Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1783–1853 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 92
.jpg?width=1200)
Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg1668–1721 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.0 - 93
Charles Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen1712–1743 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 94
Ferdinand I of Romania1865–1927 · 20th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 95
Ferdinand II of Portugal1816–1885 · 19th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 96
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor1578–1637 · 17th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 97
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria1529–1595 · 16th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures1.0 - 98
Hans Sachs1494–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0.99 - 99
Wilhelm II, German Emperor1859–1941 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.99 - 100
.jpg?width=1200)
Wilhelm II of Württemberg1848–1921 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0.95
Lived then
The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 19th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Echoed
- 1
Frédéric Chopin1810–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 2
Claude Debussy1862–1918 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians12 decades - 3
Hector Berlioz1803–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians19 decades - 4
Georges Bizet1838–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 5
.jpg)
Jacques Offenbach1819–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 6
Camille Saint-Saëns1835–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 7
_by_Nadar.jpg)
Charles Gounod1818–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians17 decades - 8
Gabriel Fauré1845–1924 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 9
.jpg)
Jules Massenet1842–1912 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 10
Léo Delibes1836–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 11
Hortense de Beauharnais1783–1837 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians20 decades - 12
Charles-Valentin Alkan1813–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 13
Adolphe Adam1803–1856 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians19 decades - 14
Pauline Viardot1821–1910 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians18 decades - 15
.jpg?width=1200)
Charles-Marie Widor1844–1937 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians8 decades - 16
Ernest Chausson1855–1899 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 17
Édouard Lalo1823–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians1 decades - 18
Cécile Chaminade1857–1944 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians1 decades - 19
Emmanuel Chabrier1841–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 20
Vincent d'Indy1851–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 21
Daniel Auber1782–1871 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 22
_Maria_Malibran_-_Firmin_Salabert_-_Mus%C3%A9e_des_Beaux-Arts_de_Gaillac.jpg?width=1200)
Maria Malibran1808–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians7 decades - 23
Mélanie Bonis1858–1937 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians1 decades - 24
.jpg?width=1200)
Anton Reicha1770–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 25
Aristide Bruant1851–1925 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 26
Émile Waldteufel1837–1915 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 27
Fromental Halévy1799–1862 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians4 decades - 28
Ambroise Thomas1811–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians19 decades - 29
.jpg?width=1200)
Gaspare Spontini1774–1851 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 30
Louise Farrenc1804–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 31
Friedrich Burgmüller1806–1874 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 32
François Adrien Boieldieu1775–1834 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 33
Rodolphe Kreutzer1766–1831 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians9 decades - 34
Augusta Holmès1847–1903 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 35
Henri Duparc1848–1933 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians12 decades - 36
Gabriel Pierné1863–1937 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 37
André Messager1853–1929 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 38
Théodore Dubois1837–1924 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 39
Alexandre Guilmant1837–1911 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 40
Gustave Charpentier1860–1956 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 41
Emma Calvé1858–1942 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians11 decades - 42
Léon Boëllmann1862–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 43
François Sudre1787–1862 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 44
Benjamin Godard1849–1895 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 45
George Onslow1784–1853 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 46
Jules Perrot1810–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians2 decades - 47
Suzanne Manet1829–1906 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 48
Ferdinand Hérold1791–1833 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 49
Célestine Galli-Marié1837–1905 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 50
Ernest Guiraud1837–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 51
Henri Herz1802–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 52
François Delsarte1811–1871 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 53
Charles Lecocq1832–1918 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 54
Guy Ropartz1864–1955 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 55
Charles-Louis Hanon1819–1900 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 56
Marie Jaëll1846–1925 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 57
Pierre Rode1774–1830 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 58
Henry Litolff1818–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 59
Antoine-François Marmontel1816–1898 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 60
Alfred Lefébure-Wély1817–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 61
Eugène Gigout1844–1925 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 62
Philipp von Ferrary1850–1917 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 63
Maurice Emmanuel1862–1938 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 64
Juliette Colbert de Barolo1785–1864 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 65
Marie Pleyel1811–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 66
Charles Dancla1817–1907 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 67
Arthur Saint-Léon1821–1870 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 68
%2C_attributed_to_L%C3%A9opold_Massard.jpg?width=1200)
Auguste Franchomme1808–1884 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 69
Louis Théodore Gouvy1819–1898 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 70
Nicolas-Charles Bochsa1789–1856 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 71
Paul Taffanel1844–1908 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 72
Jean-Baptiste Arban1825–1889 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 73
Napoléon Coste1805–1883 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 74
Hervé1825–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 75
Clémence de Grandval1828–1907 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 76
Arnold Dolmetsch1858–1940 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 77
Robert Planquette1848–1903 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians3 decades - 78
Adolphe Nourrit1802–1839 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 79
Félicien-César David1810–1876 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 80
Pierre Baillot1771–1842 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 81
André Gedalge1856–1926 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 82
Louis Diémer1843–1919 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 83
Gilbert Duprez1806–1896 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 84
Jean-Baptiste Faure1830–1914 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 85
Victor Massé1822–1884 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 86
Paul Vidal1863–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 87
Camille Pleyel1788–1855 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 88
Cornélie Falcon1814–1897 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 89
Jean-Delphin Alard1815–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 90
Ernest Reyer1823–1909 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 91
Victor Maurel1848–1923 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 92
Alfred Bruneau1857–1934 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 93
Marie Bigot1786–1820 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured—
- 94
.jpg?width=1200)
Raoul Pugno1852–1914 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 95
Jacques Féréol Mazas1782–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 96
Ernest Goüin1815–1885 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 97
Isidor Philipp1863–1958 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 98
François Habeneck1781–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 99
Nicolas Isouard1775–1818 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured— - 100
Albert Lavignac1846–1916 · 🇫🇷 France · Musiciansnot measured—
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.