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
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg1620–1688 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures8.4 - 2
Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt1700–1771 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany8.4 - 3
Frederick William, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen1663–1735 · 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
Maria Theresa1717–1780 · 18th century · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures3.8 - 7
Frederick II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1676–1732 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians3.8 - 8
Frederick II, Elector Palatine1482–1556 · 16th century3.8 - 9
Frederick II of Legnica1480–1547 · 16th century3.8 - 10
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1418–1478 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.8 - 11
Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1633–1708 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.8 - 12
John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania1542–1600 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.9
- 13
John Frederick, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt1721–1767 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9
- 14
John Frederick, Duke of Württemberg1582–1628 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 15
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1625–1679 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.9 - 16
John Frederick, Count Palatine of Sulzbach-Hilpoltstein1587–1644 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.9 - 17
John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach1654–1686 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models2.9 - 18
Johann Georg, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels1677–1712 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.7 - 19
John George, Elector of Brandenburg1525–1598 · 16th century · Religious Figures2.7
- 20HIHenry IV, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1397–1427 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.5
- 21HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1460–1526 · 15th century · Historical Figures2.5
- 22
Henry IV, Duke of Mecklenburg1417–1477 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany2.5 - 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 Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Oels1740–1805 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.8 - 27
Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg1711–1785 · 18th century · Models1.8 - 28
Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst1734–1793 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.8 - 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
Henry II, Duke of Bavaria951–995 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 32
Henry II, Count of Reuss-Gera1572–1635 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 33
Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1489–1568 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 34HIHenry II, Count of Gorizia1150–1150 · 12th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6
- 35
Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse1299–1376 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.6 - 36HIHenry II, Duke of Limburg1110–1167 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 37HIHenry II, Lord of Mecklenburg1262–1329 · 13th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 38HIHenry II of Augsburg1001–1063 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures1.6
- 39HIHenry II, Margrave of Meissen1103–1123 · 12th century · Models1.6
- 40
Frederick I1425–1476 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 41
Frederick I, Count Palatine of Simmern1417–1480 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 42
Frederick I of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1646–1691 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.5 - 43
Frederick I, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1585–1638 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5 - 44
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg1371–1440 · 15th century1.5 - 45
Frederick I of Liegnitz1446–1488 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.5
- 46
Frederick I of Prussia1657–1713 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.5 - 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 - 50
Henry III of Nassau-Breda1483–1538 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 51HIHenry III, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1300–1307 · 14th century · Religious Figures1.4
- 52
Henry III, Count of Sayn1193–1247 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4 - 53
Henry III, Landgrave of Upper Hesse1440–1483 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.4 - 54
Henry III, Duke of Limburg1167–1221 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4 - 55HIHenry III, Duke of Mecklenburg1337–1383 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4
- 56HIHenry III, Duke of Bavaria940–989 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.4
- 57HIHenry III, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1416–1464 · 15th century1.4
- 58
Henry III1215–1288 · 13th century · Writers1.4 - 59
William III1425–1482 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.4 - 60WIWilliam III, Count of Weimar1000–1039 · 11th 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
Friedrich III, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth1711–1763 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 67
Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg1699–1772 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.3
- 68
Frederick III, Burgrave of Nuremberg1220–1297 · 13th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 69
Frederick III, Prince of Salm-Kyrburg1744–1794 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.3 - 70
Frederick III, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp1597–1659 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.3 - 71
Frederick III of the Palatinate1515–1576 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 72
Frederick III, Margrave of Baden1327–1353 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models1.3 - 73
Frederick III, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg1673–1746 · 18th century · Politicians1.3 - 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, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1533–1596 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 77
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania1573–1618 · 17th century · Historical Figures1.2
- 78
Philip II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe1723–1787 · 18th century · Historical Figures1.2 - 79PIPhilip II, Count of Waldeck1453–1524 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 80PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Lichtenberg1462–1504 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.2
- 81PIPhilip II, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg1501–1529 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.2
- 82WIWilliam I of Weimar900–963 · 10th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.1
- 83
William I1343–1407 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 84
William I, German Emperor1797–1888 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1
- 85
William the Silent1533–1584 · 16th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.1 - 86
Wilhelm I of Württemberg1781–1864 · 19th century · Historical Figures1.1 - 87
William I, Duke of Bavaria1330–1389 · 14th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians1.1 - 88
William I, Elector of Hesse1743–1821 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.1 - 89
William, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg1648–1725 · 17th century · 🇩🇪 Germany1.1 - 90
William I, Count of Nassau-Siegen1487–1559 · 16th century1.1 - 91
Carl Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach1783–1853 · 19th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0 - 92
Charles Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen1712–1743 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1.0
- 93
Karl Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg1668–1721 · 18th century · 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
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
Ludwig van Beethoven1770–1827 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians21 decades - 2
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky1840–1893 · Musicians10 decades - 3
Richard Wagner1813–1883 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians19 decades - 4
Frédéric Chopin1810–1849 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 5
Giuseppe Verdi1813–1901 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians18 decades - 6
Franz Schubert1797–1828 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians22 decades - 7
Gustav Mahler1860–1911 · Musicians13 decades - 8
Giacomo Puccini1858–1924 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades - 9
Johannes Brahms1833–1897 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians17 decades - 10
Franz Liszt1811–1886 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians19 decades - 11
Felix Mendelssohn1809–1847 · Musicians18 decades - 12
Robert Schumann1810–1856 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians19 decades - 13
Antonín Dvořák1841–1904 · Musicians0 decades - 14
Claude Debussy1862–1918 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians12 decades - 15
Gioachino Rossini1792–1868 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians20 decades - 16
Richard Strauss1864–1949 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians13 decades - 17
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov1844–1908 · Musicians9 decades - 18
Johann Strauss II1825–1899 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians16 decades - 19
Hector Berlioz1803–1869 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians19 decades - 20
Niccolò Paganini1782–1840 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians18 decades - 21
Edvard Grieg1843–1907 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Musicians12 decades - 22
Modest Mussorgsky1839–1881 · Musicians11 decades - 23
Georges Bizet1838–1875 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 24
Jacques Offenbach1819–1880 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 25
Camille Saint-Saëns1835–1921 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians15 decades - 26
Mikhail Glinka1804–1857 · Musicians12 decades - 27
Alexander Borodin1833–1887 · Musicians8 decades - 28
Clara Schumann1819–1896 · Musicians18 decades - 29
Bedřich Smetana1824–1884 · Musicians0 decades - 30
Anton Bruckner1824–1896 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians14 decades - 31
Carl Maria von Weber1786–1826 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians21 decades - 32
Gaetano Donizetti1797–1848 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians19 decades - 33
Vincenzo Bellini1801–1835 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades - 34
Edward Elgar1857–1934 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians13 decades - 35
Charles Gounod1818–1893 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians17 decades - 36
Gabriel Fauré1845–1924 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 37
Pietro Mascagni1863–1945 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades - 38
Adolphe Sax1814–1894 · Musicians13 decades - 39
Johann Strauss I1804–1849 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musiciansnot measured— - 40
Abdülaziz1830–1876 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Musiciansnot measured— - 41
Mily Balakirev1836–1910 · Musicians9 decades - 42
Anton Rubinstein1829–1894 · Musicians15 decades - 43
Isaac Albéniz1860–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians12 decades - 44
Jules Massenet1842–1912 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 45
Leoš Janáček1854–1928 · Musicians0 decades - 46
César Franck1822–1890 · Musicians15 decades - 47
Jenny Lind1820–1887 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Musicians18 decades - 48
Annette von Droste-Hülshoff1797–1848 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians14 decades - 49
Léo Delibes1836–1891 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades - 50
Hortense de Beauharnais1783–1837 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians20 decades - 51
Fanny Mendelssohn1805–1847 · Musicians10 decades - 52
Ignacy Jan Paderewski1860–1941 · Musicians0 decades
- 53
Max Bruch1838–1920 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians17 decades - 54
Carl Czerny1791–1857 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians15 decades - 55
Cosima Wagner1837–1930 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades - 56
Giacomo Meyerbeer1791–1864 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians15 decades - 57
John Philip Sousa1854–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians13 decades - 58
Francisco Tárrega1852–1909 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians16 decades - 59
Ruggero Leoncavallo1857–1919 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians13 decades
- 60
Johann Nepomuk Hummel1778–1837 · Musicians8 decades - 61
Pablo de Sarasate1844–1908 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians11 decades - 62
Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily1772–1807 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musiciansnot measured— - 63
Stephen Foster1826–1864 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians18 decades - 64
Nellie Melba1861–1931 · 🇦🇺 Australia · Musicians10 decades - 65
Emma, Lady Hamilton1765–1815 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians1 decades - 66
Stanisław Moniuszko1819–1872 · Musicians0 decades - 67
César Cui1835–1918 · Musicians9 decades - 68
Henryk Wieniawski1835–1880 · Musicians0 decades - 69
Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart1791–1844 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians2 decades - 70
Solomon Northup1808–1864 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians3 decades - 71
Arthur Sullivan1842–1900 · Musicians16 decades - 72
Hans von Bülow1830–1894 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Musicians17 decades - 73
Charles-Valentin Alkan1813–1888 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 74
John Field1782–1837 · Musicians22 decades - 75
Adolphe Adam1803–1856 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians19 decades - 76
Eugène Ysaÿe1858–1931 · Musicians0 decades - 77
Pauline Viardot1821–1910 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians18 decades - 78
Fanny Crosby1820–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Musicians4 decades - 79
Hugo Wolf1860–1903 · Musicians13 decades - 80
Frederick Delius1862–1934 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians8 decades - 81
Franz von Suppé1819–1895 · Musicians0 decades - 82
Nikolai Rubinstein1835–1881 · Musicians10 decades - 83
Joseph Joachim1831–1907 · Musicians19 decades - 84
Ethel Smyth1858–1944 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians11 decades - 85
Charles-Marie Widor1844–1937 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians8 decades - 86
Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev1856–1915 · Musicians9 decades - 87
Ernest Chausson1855–1899 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians13 decades - 88
Louis Spohr1784–1859 · Musicians21 decades - 89FXFranz Xaver Süssmayr1766–1803 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Musicians3 decades
- 90
Amilcare Ponchielli1834–1886 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians15 decades - 91
Édouard Lalo1823–1892 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians1 decades - 92
Karl Mozart1784–1858 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians0 decades - 93
Cécile Chaminade1857–1944 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians1 decades - 94
Adelina Patti1843–1919 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians16 decades - 95
Fernando Sor1778–1839 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians11 decades - 96
Emmanuel Chabrier1841–1894 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 97
Vincent d'Indy1851–1931 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians14 decades - 98
Daniel Auber1782–1871 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades - 99
Maria Malibran1808–1836 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians7 decades - 100
Mykola Lysenko1842–1912 · Musicians0 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.