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 Spanish books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
John of God1495–1550 · 16th century · 🇵🇹 Portugal5.8 - 2
Lope de Vega1562–1635 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers5.3 - 3
Francis Xavier1506–1552 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers4.5 - 4
John of Austria1547–1578 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians4.2 - 5
Gonzalo Pizarro1502–1548 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures3.3 - 6
Nicolás Antonio1617–1684 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians2.3 - 7
John I of France1316–1316 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures2.1
- 8
Francisco Pizarro1478–1541 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures2.0 - 9
Miguel de Cervantes1547–1616 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.9 - 10
Diego de Almagro1475–1538 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.7
- 11
Vincent Ferrer1350–1419 · 14th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1.6 - 12
Ambrosio de Morales1513–1591 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.5 - 13
Francis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandía1510–1572 · 16th century · Politicians1.5 - 14
Francisco de Borja1441–1511 · 15th century · Writers1.5 - 15
Hernando Pizarro1502–1578 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.4 - 16
Pedro de Valdivia1497–1553 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1.3 - 17
Pedro de Alvarado1486–1541 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.3 - 18
Recceswinthdied 672 · 7th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1.2 - 19
Wittiza686–710 · 8th century · Historical Figures1.2
- 20
Pope Alexander VI1431–1503 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1.2 - 21
Ignatius of Loyola1491–1556 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1.1 - 22
Garcilaso de la Vega1503–1536 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.0 - 23
Francisco Quevedo1584–1645 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1.00 - 24
Juan López de Padilla1490–1521 · 16th century · Activists0.90 - 25
Gonzalo de Sandoval1497–1528 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.86 - 26
Lope de Rueda1505–1566 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.82 - 27
Juan de Herrera1530–1597 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Architects0.82 - 28
Bartolomé de las Casas1484–1566 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.81 - 29
Jorge Juan y Santacilia1713–1773 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists0.80 - 30
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo1828–1897 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.80 - 31
Anna of Austria, Queen of Spain1549–1580 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.77 - 32
Manuel Godoy1767–1851 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.76 - 33
Melchor Cano1509–1560 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.76 - 34
Tirso de Molina1583–1648 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.75 - 35
Christopher Columbus1451–1506 · 15th century · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0.75 - 36
Francisco Pacheco1564–1644 · 16th century · Artists0.74 - 37
Teresa of Ávila1515–1582 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.70 - 38
Rodrigo de Quiroga1512–1580 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.69
- 39
Porfirio Díaz1830–1915 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians0.68 - 40
Juan Bravo1483–1521 · 16th century · Politicians0.63 - 41
Rodrigo Caro1573–1647 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.63 - 42
Hernán Cortés1485–1547 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.62 - 43
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta1825–1903 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.61 - 44
Alonso de Alvarado1500–1556 · 16th century · Historical Figures0.57 - 45
Francisco de Toledo, Count of Oropesa1515–1582 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.56 - 46JFJuan Fernández1529–1602 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.56
- 47
Peter of Alcantara1499–1562 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.54 - 48
Francisco Verdugo1537–1595 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.53 - 49
Alonso Cano1601–1667 · 17th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0.52 - 50
Juan de Mariana1536–1624 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.52 - 51
Francisco de Villagra1511–1563 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.50 - 52
Francis Solanus1549–1610 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.48 - 53
Thomas of Villanova1488–1555 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.47 - 54
Hernando de Soto1500–1542 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.46 - 55
Isidore of Seville560–636 · 6th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.46 - 56
Sampiro956–1041 · 10th century · Politicians0.44 - 57
Andrés Bello1781–1865 · 19th century · Politicians0.44 - 58
Diego de Ordaz1480–1532 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists0.43 - 59
John of the Cross1542–1591 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.42 - 60
Francisco de Aguirre1507–1581 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.41 - 61
Emilio Castelar1832–1899 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.41 - 62
Ángel de Saavedra, 3rd Duke of Rivas1791–1865 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.40
- 63
Juan de Ribera1532–1611 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Actors0.39 - 64
Antonio de Ulloa1716–1795 · 18th century · Writers0.39 - 65
Jose Miguel Carrera1785–1821 · 19th century · Politicians0.38 - 66
Juan de Castro1431–1506 · 15th century0.38 - 67
Leopoldo O'Donnell, 1st Duke of Tetuan1809–1867 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.38 - 68
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos1744–1811 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.38 - 69
Juan Andrés1740–1817 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.37 - 70
María de Padilla1334–1361 · 14th century0.37 - 71
Elisabeth Farnese1692–1766 · 18th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.36 - 72
Emilia Pardo Bazán1851–1921 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.36 - 73
Juan de Grijalva1490–1527 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.36 - 74
Francisco de Carvajal1464–1548 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.36 - 75
Fernando de Herrera1534–1597 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.35 - 76
Alfonso1453–1468 · 15th century · Politicians0.34 - 77HDHernando del Pulgar1436–1492 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.34
- 78
Vicente Guerrero1782–1831 · 19th century · 🇲🇽 Mexico · Politicians0.34 - 79
Fernán González of Castile910–970 · 10th century0.34 - 80
Juan de la Cosa1450–1510 · 15th century · Historical Figures0.34 - 81
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma1545–1592 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.34 - 82
Alonso de Ercilla1533–1595 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.33 - 83
Bartolomé Mitre1821–1906 · 19th century · 🇦🇷 Argentina · Politicians0.33 - 84
Juan de Garay1528–1583 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain0.33 - 85
Luis de Góngora1561–1627 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.32 - 86
Michael de Sanctis1591–1625 · 17th century · Religious Figures0.32
- 87
Francisco de Montejo y León1479–1553 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.31 - 88
Bernardino de Mendoza1540–1604 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.30 - 89
Bernardo O'Higgins1778–1842 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.30 - 90
Gil Vicente1465–1536 · 16th century · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Writers0.30 - 91
Manuel José Quintana1772–1857 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.30 - 92
Simón Bolívar1783–1830 · 19th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0.30 - 93
Isabella of Castile, Queen of Aragon1283–1328 · 14th century0.29 - 94
Pedro Tenorio1328–1399 · 14th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0.29 - 95
Luis de Granada1504–1588 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Actors0.28 - 96
Pedro de Villagra1513–1577 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.28 - 97
Eurosia864–880 · 9th century0.28 - 98
Juan de Ortega1480–1568 · 16th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.28 - 99
Manuel Oribe1792–1857 · 19th century · Politicians0.28 - 100
Antonio de Nebrija1444–1522 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0.28
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
Santiago Ramón y Cajal1852–1934 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists13 decades - 2
Leonardo Torres Quevedo1852–1936 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists11 decades - 3
Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol1819–1885 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists8 decades - 4
Isaac Peral1851–1895 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 5
Manuel Blanco Ramos1778–1845 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 6
Rafael Guastavino1842–1908 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 7
Faustino Míguez González1831–1925 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 8
Manuel Iradier y Bulfy1854–1911 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 9
Ramón de la Sagra1798–1871 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 10
Jaume Ferran i Clua1851–1929 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 11
Philip Barker Webb1793–1854 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 12
Julio Cervera Baviera1854–1927 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 13
Mariano Lagasca1776–1839 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 14
Carlos Ibáñez de Ibero1825–1891 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 15
Mariano de la Paz Graells y de la Agüera1809–1898 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 16LNLonginos Navás1858–1938 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 17
José Arechavaleta1838–1912 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 18
Odón de Buen1863–1945 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 19
Simon de Roxas Clemente y Rubio1777–1827 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 20
Francisco de Paula Marín1774–1837 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 21
José María Algué1856–1930 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 22
Carlos Pau y Español1857–1937 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 23
Blanca Catalán de Ocón y Gayolá1860–1904 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 24
Sebastián Vidal y Soler1842–1889 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 25
Miguel Colmeiro1816–1901 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 26
Casiano de Prado1797–1866 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 27
Francisco Coello1822–1898 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 28
Fermina Orduña1801–1900 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 29
Tomás O'Ryan y Vázquez1821–1902 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 30
Benjamín Máximo Laguna y Villanueva1826–1902 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 31AGAnastasio Guzmán1800–1807 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 32JDJosé Demetrio Rodríguez1780–1846 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 33
Joaquín Ezquerra del Bayo1793–1859 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 34DBDomingo Bello y Espinosa1817–1884 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured—
- 35
Claudio Boutelou1774–1842 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot measured— - 36
Francisco Fernández Iparraguirre1852–1889 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientistsnot 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.