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 English books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
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Jesus5 BC–30 · 1st century · Religious Figures94 - 2
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Homer900 BC–800 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers15 - 3
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Cicero106 BC–43 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians13 - 4
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Augustus63 BC–14 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians13 - 5
Plato428 BC–348 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics10 - 6
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Virgil70 BC–19 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers9.6 - 7
Aristotle384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics9.4 - 8
Socrates470 BC–399 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇧🇷 Brazil · Academics6.4 - 9
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Herodotus484 BC–425 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers6.2 - 10
Charles II, Duke of Savoy1489–1496 · 15th century · Historical Figures5.9 - 11
Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1545–1617 · 16th century · Historical Figures5.9 - 12
Charles II, Lord of Monaco1555–1589 · 16th century · Politicians5.9 - 13
Plutarch40–120 · 1st century · Academics5.6 - 14
Ovid43 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers4.2 - 15
Strabo63 BC–23 · 1st millennium BC · Academics4.1 - 16
Charlemagne748–814 · 8th century · Historical Figures3.9 - 17
Demosthenes384 BC–322 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians3.8 - 18
Lord Byron1788–1824 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers3.6 - 19
Henry IV, Duke of Brabant1251–1272 · 13th century3.5 - 20
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor1050–1106 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures3.5 - 21
Henry IV, Duke of Limburg1195–1247 · 13th century · Historical Figures3.5 - 22HIHenry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg1463–1514 · 15th century · 🇩🇪 Germany3.5
- 23HIHenry IV, Count of Waldeck1300–1348 · 14th century3.5
- 24
Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg1113–1196 · 12th century · Politicians3.5 - 25
Livy59 BC–17 · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers3.4 - 26
Origen185–254 · 3rd century · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Academics3.1 - 27
Cleopatra69 BC–30 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Historical Figures3.0 - 28
Xenophon430 BC–354 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics3.0 - 29
Walter Scott1771–1832 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers3.0 - 30
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Henry III, Duke of Głogów1251–1309 · 13th century · Politicians2.8 - 31HIHenry III, Count of Luxembourg1070–1096 · 11th century · Historical Figures2.8
- 32
Henry III, Count of Louvain1060–1095 · 11th century · Politicians2.8 - 33
Henry III, Count of Schauenburg-Holstein1370–1421 · 15th century2.8 - 34
Henry III, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1542–1587 · 16th century2.8 - 35
Henry III, Margrave of Baden-Hachberg1300–1330 · 14th century · Models2.8 - 36
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Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor1016–1056 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.8 - 37
Henry III, Count of Gorizia1263–1323 · 13th century2.8 - 38
Tertullian160–240 · 2nd century · Academics2.7 - 39
James II, Count of Urgell1388–1433 · 15th century2.6 - 40
Robert Peel1788–1850 · 19th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians2.6 - 41
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor1275–1313 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France2.6 - 42
Pericles494 BC–429 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians2.5 - 43
Henry VI, Count of Luxembourg1240–1288 · 13th century · Politicians2.5 - 44HVHenry VI, Count of Waldeck1340–1397 · 14th century2.5
- 45
Henry VI1376–1454 · 15th century2.5 - 46
John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford1485–1555 · 16th century · Politicians2.4 - 47
Euclid333 BC–285 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics2.4 - 48
John the Baptist6 BC–30 · 1st century · 🇮🇱 Israel · Religious Figures2.4 - 49
Henry II, Count of Champagne1166–1197 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.3 - 50
Henry II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg1317–1390 · 14th century2.3 - 51
Henry II , Duke of Lower Lorraine1059–1119 · 11th century2.3 - 52Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1507–1548 · 16th century2.3
- 53
Henry II, Prince of Anhalt-Aschersleben1215–1266 · 13th century · Historical Figures2.3 - 54
Henry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen1289–1351 · 14th century · Historical Figures2.3 - 55
Henry II, Duke of Świdnica1312–1345 · 14th century2.3 - 56
Henry II1207–1248 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians2.3 - 57
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor973–1024 · 11th century · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures2.3 - 58HIHenry II, Margrave of the Nordmark1102–1128 · 12th century2.3
- 59
Henry II, Duke of Ziębice1396–1420 · 15th century2.3 - 60
Henry II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal1308–1320 · 14th century · Models2.3 - 61
Otho32–69 · 1st century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians2.3 - 62
Trajan53–117 · 1st century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians2.3 - 63
Bede672–735 · 8th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers2.3 - 64
Solon630 BC–560 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.2 - 65
Euripides480 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.2 - 66
Thucydides460 BC–395 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.1 - 67
Pythagoras582 BC–490 BC · 1st millennium BC · Academics2.1 - 68
Pindar517 BC–437 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers2.0 - 69
Richard II963–1026 · 10th century · 🇫🇷 France1.9 - 70
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Julius Caesar100 BC–44 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1.9 - 71
Sophocles496 BC–406 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.9 - 72
John Smith1580–1631 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures1.8 - 73
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Vespasian9–79 · 1st century · Politicians1.8 - 74
Aristophanes445 BC–385 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.8 - 75
William Henry1774–1836 · 19th century · Scientists1.7 - 76
Ben Jonson1572–1637 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers1.7 - 77
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Alexander the Great356 BC–323 BC · 1st millennium BC · Historical Figures1.7 - 78
Hippocrates460 BC–370 BC · 1st millennium BC · Doctors1.7 - 79
Alcibiades450 BC–404 BC · 1st millennium BC · Politicians1.6 - 80
Ahab918 BC–852 BC · 1st millennium BC · Models1.6 - 81
Isaac Newton1642–1727 · 17th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics1.6 - 82WIWilliam III, Count of Burgundy1110–1127 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 83WIWilliam III, Marquess of Montferrat970–1042 · 11th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 84WIWilliam III, Count of Jülich1150–1218 · 12th century · Historical Figures1.6
- 85
William III, Count of Toulouse975–1037 · 11th century · Historical Figures1.6 - 86WIWilliam III, Count of Genevaborn 1280 · 14th century1.6
- 87
William III, Duke of Bavaria1375–1435 · 15th century · Historical Figures1.6 - 88WIWilliam III, Duke of Aquitaine910–963 · 10th century1.6
- 89
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John Bull1562–1628 · 16th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Musicians1.6 - 90
George II, Duke of Württemberg-Montbéliard1626–1699 · 17th century1.6 - 91
George II, Duke of Brieg1523–1586 · 16th century1.6 - 92
George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels1512–1553 · 16th century1.6 - 93
Polybius200 BC–120 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers1.5 - 94
Galen129–300 · 2nd century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Doctors1.5 - 95
Hadrian76–138 · 2nd century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.5 - 96
Lucretius94 BC–55 BC · 1st millennium BC · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers1.5 - 97
Lucan39–65 · 1st century · Writers1.4 - 98
William Jones1746–1794 · 18th century · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics1.4 - 99
William the Conqueror1028–1087 · 11th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures1.4
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
Henry Morton Stanley1841–1904 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalists7 decades - 2
William Thomas Stead1849–1912 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalists0 decades - 3
Walter Bagehot1826–1877 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalists16 decades - 4
Thomas Stevens1854–1935 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 5
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Flora Shaw1852–1929 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 6
Rachel Beer1858–1927 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 7
Alfred Percy Sinnett1840–1921 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 8
Thomas Power O'Connor1848–1929 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 9
Thomas Anstey Guthrie1856–1934 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 10
Robert Smythe Hichens1864–1950 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 11
Bessie Rayner Parkes1829–1925 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 12
J. M. Robertson1856–1933 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 13
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Helena Swanwick1864–1939 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 14
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Charlotte Wilson1854–1944 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 15
Dora Montefiore1851–1933 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 16
Sir Henry Norman, 1st Baronet1858–1939 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 17
Gertrude Elizabeth Blood1857–1911 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 18
C. P. Scott1846–1932 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 19
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Henry Nevinson1856–1941 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 20
Henry Vizetelly1820–1894 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 21
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Ethel Arnold1860–1930 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 22
Marion Spielmann1858–1948 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 23CCCharlotte Carmichael Stopes1840–1929 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured—
- 24
John Dickens1785–1851 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 25
Arthur Benni1839–1867 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 26
Arthur St. John Adcock1864–1930 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 27
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Robert Smith Surtees1805–1864 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 28
John Otway Percy Bland1863–1945 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 29
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Sidney James Mark Low1857–1932 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 30
Stephen Gwynn1864–1950 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 31
R. C. Lehmann1856–1929 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 32
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Margaret Heitland1860–1938 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 33
Charles Whibley1859–1930 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 34
Edward Lawrence Levy1851–1932 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 35
David Christie Murray1847–1907 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 36
Douglas Blackburn1857–1929 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 37
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Beriah Gwynfe Evans1848–1927 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 38
George Lacy Hillier1856–1941 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot measured— - 39
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Catherine Gasquoine Hartley1860–1928 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Journalistsnot 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.