215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time1800-1899

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.

  1. 1Maria Theresa1717-1780 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures3.8
  2. 2Jean Paul1763-1825 · 18th century · Germany · Writers1.8
  3. 3Paracelsus1493-1541 · 16th century · Switzerland · Doctors1.4
  4. 4Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor1741-1790 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures1.3
  5. 5Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor1316-1378 · 14th century · Historical Figures1.3
  6. 6Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow1633-1695 · 17th century · Germany · Writers1.2
  7. 7Hans Sachs1494-1576 · 16th century · Germany · Writers0.99
  8. 8William IV, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1532-1592 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists0.85
  9. 9Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor1685-1740 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.85
  10. 10Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1757-1828 · 18th century · Politicians0.84
  11. 11George Frederick of Waldeck-Eisenberg1620-1692 · 17th century · Models0.84
  12. 12Władysław of Głogów1420-1460 · 15th century · Germany0.78
  13. 13Martin Luther1483-1546 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.78
  14. 14Novalis1772-1801 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.77
  15. 15Louis Philip, Count Palatine of Simmern-Kaiserslautern1602-1655 · 17th century · Germany0.75
  16. 16Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165-1197 · 12th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.72
  17. 17Frederick Charles, Duke of Württemberg-Winnental1652-1698 · 17th century · Politicians0.71
  18. 18Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor1768-1835 · 19th century0.65
  19. 19Albrecht Dürer1471-1528 · 16th century · Germany · Artists0.64
  20. 20Frederick William IV of Prussia1795-1861 · 19th century · Politicians0.59
  21. 21Conradin1252-1268 · 13th century · Germany · Musicians0.58
  22. 22Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg1629-1698 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.55
  23. 23Catherine the Great1729-1796 · 18th century · Russia · Historical Figures0.55
  24. 24Richard Wagner1813-1883 · 19th century · Germany · Musicians0.55
  25. 25Francis Anthony, Count of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch1657-1702 · 17th century · Germany0.53
  26. 26Friedrich Schlegel1772-1829 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.51
  27. 27Jacob Grimm1785-1863 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.48
  28. 28Tannhäuser1300-1300 · 14th century · Germany · Writers0.47
  29. 29Charles XII of Sweden1682-1718 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.46
  30. 30Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1709-1788 · 18th century · Germany · Models0.45
  31. 31Peter I of Oldenburg1755-1829 · 18th century · Politicians0.44
  32. 32John Louis of Nassau-Hadamar1590-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.43
  33. 33Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor1678-1711 · 18th century · Austria · Historical Figures0.39
  34. 34Karl, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1652-1718 · 17th century · Historical Figures0.38
  35. 35Philip V, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1541-1599 · 16th century · Germany0.37
  36. 36Ulrich von Hutten1488-1523 · 16th century · Germany · Academics0.35
  37. 37Wilhelm von Humboldt1767-1835 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.34
  38. 38Philip IV, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1514-1590 · 16th century · Germany0.33
  39. 39Moses Mendelssohn1729-1786 · 18th century · Germany · Academics0.33
  40. 40Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken1722-1775 · 18th century · Germany0.33
  41. 41Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor1697-1745 · 18th century · Historical Figures0.32
  42. 42Christian William I, Prince of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen1647-1721 · 17th century · Germany0.31
  43. 43Frederick of Saxony1474-1510 · 16th century · Germany0.31
  44. 44Walther von der Vogelweide1170-1230 · 13th century · Austria · Musicians0.30
  45. 45Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1579-1666 · 17th century · Germany · Writers0.30
  46. 46John of Bohemia1296-1346 · 14th century · Historical Figures0.29
  47. 47Heinrich Frauenlob1255-1318 · 13th century · Writers0.28
  48. 48Carl Ritter1779-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.27
  49. 49Heinrich Heine1797-1856 · 19th century · France · Writers0.25
  50. 50Kuno Fischer1824-1907 · 19th century · Academics0.25
  51. 51John Charles, Count Palatine of Gelnhausen1638-1704 · 17th century · Germany0.25
  52. 52Franz von Sickingen1481-1523 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.24
  53. 53Viktor Meyer1848-1897 · 19th century · Scientists0.23
  54. 54Augustus III of Poland1696-1763 · 18th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.22
  55. 55Duke Heinrich Julius I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1564-1613 · 16th century · Writers0.22
  56. 56Johannes von Müller1752-1809 · 18th century · Switzerland · Writers0.22
  57. 57Julius Lothar Meyer1830-1895 · 19th century · Scientists0.21
  58. 58Otto Henry, Count Palatine of Sulzbach1556-1604 · 16th century · Germany0.20
  59. 59Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden1407-1453 · 15th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.20
  60. 60Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1644-1712 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.20
  61. 61Joachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg1546-1608 · 16th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.20
  62. 62Georg Forster1754-1794 · 18th century · Germany · Writers0.20
  63. 63William V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1602-1637 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.19
  64. 64John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg1572-1619 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.19
  65. 65Wilhelm Müller1794-1827 · 19th century · Writers0.19
  66. 66Andreas Hofer1767-1810 · 19th century · Italy0.19
  67. 67Wilhelm Grimm1786-1859 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.18
  68. 68Justus Perthes1749-1816 · 18th century0.18
  69. 69Eoban699-754 · 8th century · Germany · Religious Figures0.18
  70. 70Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria1636-1679 · 17th century · Germany · Politicians0.18
  71. 71Franz Schubert1797-1828 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.18
  72. 72Franz Liszt1811-1886 · 19th century · Austria · Musicians0.17
  73. 73Theodor Körner1791-1813 · 19th century · Writers0.17
  74. 74Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg1505-1571 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.17
  75. 75Wilhelm Heinrich, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach1691-1741 · 18th century0.17
  76. 76Paul Heyse1830-1914 · 19th century · Writers0.17
  77. 77Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1591-1634 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.17
  78. 78Clemens Brentano1778-1842 · 19th century · Germany · Writers0.17
  79. 79Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden1655-1707 · 17th century0.16
  80. 80Bruno Bauer1809-1882 · 19th century · Germany · Academics0.16
  81. 81Philip Melanchthon1497-1560 · 16th century · Germany · Scientists0.16
  82. 82Nicholas I of Werle1210-1277 · 13th century · Germany0.16
  83. 83Konrad von Würzburg1225-1287 · 13th century · Writers0.16
  84. 84Fritz Reuter1810-1874 · 19th century · Writers0.16
  85. 85Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg1578-1653 · 17th century · Germany0.15
  86. 86Fritz Müller1822-1897 · 19th century · Brazil · Scientists0.15
  87. 87Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden1710-1771 · 18th century · Sweden · Historical Figures0.15
  88. 88Regiomontanus1436-1476 · 15th century · Germany · Academics0.15
  89. 89Adolf of Germany1255-1298 · 13th century0.15
  90. 90Heinrich Rose1795-1864 · 19th century · Scientists0.15
  91. 91Otto Ludwig1813-1865 · 19th century · Writers0.15
  92. 92Frederick VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach1617-1677 · 17th century · Germany0.14
  93. 93Friedrich Hoffmann1660-1742 · 17th century · Germany · Doctors0.14
  94. 94Immanuel Kant1724-1804 · 18th century · Academics0.14
  95. 95Hugo von Mohl1805-1872 · 19th century · Scientists0.14
  96. 96Johann von Werth1591-1652 · 17th century · Germany0.14
  97. 97Christoph Friedrich Nicolai1733-1811 · 18th century · Germany · Writers0.14
  98. 98Joseph Haydn1732-1809 · 18th century · Austria · Musicians0.14
  99. 99Jakob Böhme1575-1624 · 17th century · Germany · Academics0.14
  100. 100William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar1662-1728 · 17th century · Germany · Historical Figures0.13

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 19th century, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Napoleon1769-1821 · France · Historical Figures22 decades
  2. 2Queen Victoria1819-1901 · United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  3. 3Edward VII1841-1910 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures13 decades
  4. 4Alexander I of Russia1777-1825 · Russia · Historical Figures21 decades
  5. 5Wilhelm II, German Emperor1859-1941 · Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  6. 6Alexander II of Russia1818-1881 · Russia · Historical Figures17 decades
  7. 7Franz Joseph I of Austria1830-1916 · Austria · Historical Figures18 decades
  8. 8Alexander III of Russia1845-1894 · Russia · Historical Figures16 decades
  9. 9Leopold II of Belgium1835-1909 · Belgium · Historical Figures9 decades
  10. 10Empress Elisabeth of Austria1837-1898 · Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  11. 11Empress Dowager Cixi1835-1908 · China · Historical Figures5 decades
  12. 12Emperor Meiji1852-1912 · Japan · Historical Figures11 decades
  13. 13Abdul Hamid II1842-1918 · Turkey · Historical Figures13 decades
  14. 14William I, German Emperor1797-1888 · Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  15. 15David Livingstone1813-1873 · United Kingdom · Historical Figures17 decades
  16. 16Shaka1787-1828 · Historical Figures22 decades
  17. 17Alexander von Humboldt1769-1859 · Historical Figures8 decades
  18. 18Ludwig II of Bavaria1845-1886 · Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  19. 19Mehmed VI1861-1926 · Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades
  20. 20Umberto I of Italy1844-1900 · Italy · Historical Figures14 decades
  21. 21Leopold I of Belgium1790-1865 · Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured-
  22. 22Ferdinand Foch1851-1929 · France · Historical Figures7 decades
  23. 23Pedro II of Brazil1825-1891 · Brazil · Historical Figures0 decades
  24. 24Pedro I of Brazil1798-1834 · Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  25. 25Alexandra of Denmark1844-1925 · Denmark · Historical Figures2 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.