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 Hebrew books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.
In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
#PersonIn print, 1800–2019Per million words
- 1
Rav Ashi352–427 · 4th century13 - 2
Haggaiborn 550 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures12 - 3SBSimeon ben Gamliel IIborn 100 · 2nd century12
- 4NTNathan the Babylonianborn 101 · 2nd century11
- 5
Habakkuk626 BC–600 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures7.3 - 6
Johanan ben Zakai50 BC–70 · 1st millennium BC4.8 - 7
Saadia Gaon882–942 · 10th century · Academics3.7 - 8SBSimeon ben Zomadied 200 · 2nd century3.4
- 9
Hai Gaon939–1038 · 10th century · Writers2.9 - 10
Hillel the Elder50 BC–100 · 1st millennium BC2.9
- 11
Sabbatai Zevi1626–1676 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Religious Figures2.3 - 12
Ahad Ha'am1856–1927 · 19th century · Writers2.2 - 13SISamuel ibn Naghrillah993–1055 · 11th century · Writers2.1
- 14
Isaac Abrabanel1437–1508 · 15th century · Academics1.6 - 15JBJudah ben Samuel of Regensburg1150–1217 · 12th century · Academics1.5
- 16
Judas Maccabeus500 BC–160 BC · 1st millennium BC · Religious Figures1.3
- 17HBHanina ben Dosa40–75 · 1st century1.3
- 18
Menasseh Ben Israel1604–1657 · 17th century · Academics1.2 - 19JKJoseph Kimhi1105–1170 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1.0
- 20YYanaiborn 600 · 7th century · Writers0.99
- 21EBEliezer ben Hurcanus100–200 · 2nd century0.89
- 22
Rabbeinu Tam1100–1171 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.83 - 23
Josephus37–100 · 1st century · Writers0.74 - 24
Amram Gaon810–875 · 9th century0.67 - 25
Chaim Joseph David Azulai1724–1806 · 18th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0.66 - 26EBEleazar ben Arach100–200 · 2nd century0.65
- 27
Azariah dei Rossi1513–1578 · 16th century · Writers0.64 - 28ZHZerachiah haLevi of Girona1130–1186 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.63
- 29
Abraham bar Hiyya1070–1136 · 12th century · Academics0.61 - 30
Hasdai Crescas1340–1410 · 14th century · Academics0.59 - 31
Joseph Albo1380–1444 · 15th century · Academics0.58 - 32MKMoses Kimhi1127–1190 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France0.56
- 33
Dunash ben Labrat920–990 · 10th century · Writers0.53 - 34JCJoseph Caspi1280–1345 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.50
- 35
Hayyim ben Joseph Vital1542–1620 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Musicians0.50 - 36MYMordecai Yoffe1530–1612 · 16th century0.49
- 37
Yehuda Alharizi1165–1225 · 13th century · Writers0.47 - 38
Shabbethai Donnoloborn 913 · 10th century · Scientists0.47 - 39
Jacob Emden1697–1776 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany0.37
- 40
Eleazar ben Killir600–700 · 7th century · Writers0.36 - 41
Jonathan Eybeschutz1690–1764 · 18th century · 🇩🇪 Germany0.35 - 42JBJedaiah ben Abraham Bedersi1270–1340 · 14th century · 🇫🇷 France · Academics0.30
- 43
Nathan of Gaza1644–1680 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.29 - 44
Isaac the Blind1160–1235 · 12th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.26 - 45
Moshe Alshich1508–1593 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey0.26
- 46
Yonah Gerondi1210–1263 · 13th century · Academics0.26 - 47
Solomon Molcho1500–1532 · 16th century · Academics0.25 - 48
Immanuel the Roman1260–1328 · 13th century · Writers0.25
- 49PDProfiat Duran1350–1415 · 14th century · Musicians0.23
- 50IBIsaac ben Moses Arama1420–1494 · 15th century0.22
- 51MBMenahem ben Aaron ibn Zerah1310–1385 · 14th century · Writers0.22
- 52OBObadiah ben Jacob Sforno1470–1549 · 16th century · Doctors0.22
- 53
Joel Sirkis1561–1640 · 16th century0.21 - 54
Abraham ben Mordecai Farissol1451–1525 · 15th century · Musicians0.20 - 55
Paul the Apostle5–66 · 1st century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.19 - 56RRashbam1080–1158 · 12th century0.18
- 57
Moses Sofer1762–1839 · 18th century0.17 - 58
Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz1505–1576 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.17
- 59
Shimon bar Yochai100–160 · 2nd century0.16 - 60
Baruch Spinoza1632–1677 · 17th century · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Academics0.15 - 61
Onias III300 BC–170 BC · 1st millennium BC0.14 - 62JIJacob ibn Habib1450–1516 · 15th century0.14
- 63
Menaḥem ben Shelomoh Meʾiri1249–1306 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0.14 - 64
Moses ben Joshua1300–1362 · 14th century · Academics0.13 - 65
Chaim ibn Attar1696–1743 · 18th century0.12
- 66JNJoseph Nasi1524–1579 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.11
- 67
Baal Shem Tov1698–1760 · 18th century0.11 - 68SOShemariah of Negropont1275–1352 · 14th century · Academics0.11
- 69BBBahya ben Asher1255–1340 · 13th century · Writers0.11
- 70ABAbraham ben Samuel ibn Hasdai ha-Levi1180–1240 · 13th century · Writers0.10
- 71TBTobiah ben Eliezer1080–1150 · 12th century · Actors0.10
- 72IAIsaac Albalag1300–1300 · 14th century · Academics0.09
- 73
Joseph ibn Tzaddik1075–1149 · 12th century · Academics0.09 - 74
Moses ben Jacob Cordovero1522–1570 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Actors0.08
- 75
Eliezer ben Nathan1090–1170 · 12th century · Writers0.08 - 76
Herod Archelaus23 BC–18 · 1st century · Models0.07
- 77ADAbraham de Balmes1440–1523 · 15th century · Doctors0.07
- 78
Mendele Mocher Sforim1835–1917 · 19th century · Writers0.07 - 79IIIsaac ibn Ezra1114–1158 · 12th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0.06
- 80
Jacob ben Asher1269–1343 · 14th century · Writers0.05 - 81
Tzvi Ashkenazi1660–1718 · 17th century0.05 - 82
Ben Sira300 BC–150 BC · 1st millennium BC · Writers0.05 - 83CBChananel ben Chushiel990–1053 · 11th century · Actors0.05
- 84
Shneur Zalman of Liadi1745–1812 · 18th century · Academics0.05 - 85
Benjamin of Tudela1130–1174 · 12th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0.04 - 86LBLevi ben Abraham ben Hayyimborn 1245 · 13th century · Writers0.04
- 87
Joseph ben Judah ibn Aknin1150–1266 · 12th century · Academics0.03 - 88
Daniel Bomberg1483–1549 · 16th century0.03
- 89BHBerechiah ha-Nakdan1200–1300 · 13th century · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0.03
- 90
Shalom Shabazi1619–1719 · 17th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.03 - 91NBNissim ben Jacob990–1062 · 11th century · Writers0.03
- 92YBYefet ben Ali950–1010 · 10th century · Actors0.03
- 93IBIsrael ben Moses Najara1555–1628 · 16th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0.03
- 94
Menahem Recanati1250–1310 · 13th century · Musicians0.03 - 95
Elia del Medigo1458–1497 · 15th century · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics0.03 - 96ISIbn Shaprutborn 1400 · 15th century · 🇪🇸 Spain · Actors0.03
- 97
Judah ben David Hayyuj945–1000 · 10th century · Writers0.02
- 98IBIsaac ben Moses of Vienna1180–1250 · 13th century · Writers0.02
- 99
Ishtori Haparchi1280–1337 · 14th century · Scientists0.02 - 100
Nachman of Breslov1772–1810 · 19th century0.02
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 Ford1863–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades - 2
John D. Rockefeller1839–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders14 decades - 3
J. P. Morgan1837–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders16 decades - 4
John Brown1800–1859 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders22 decades - 5
Levi Strauss1829–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders11 decades - 6
Cornelius Vanderbilt1794–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders18 decades - 7
King C. Gillette1855–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 8
Elisha Otis1811–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 9
James Buchanan Duke1856–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 10
Henry J. Heinz1844–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 11
Johns Hopkins1795–1873 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders21 decades - 12
Jay Gould1836–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders17 decades - 13
Jean Lafitte1776–1826 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders12 decades
- 14
William Crapo Durant1861–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 15
Solomon R. Guggenheim1861–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders8 decades - 16
Milton S. Hershey1857–1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders6 decades - 17
Will Keith Kellogg1860–1951 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 18
George Peabody1795–1869 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders19 decades - 19
Ransom E. Olds1864–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 20
Henry Clay Frick1849–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 21
Marcus Goldman1821–1904 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 22
William Henry Vanderbilt1821–1885 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 23
Harry Gordon Selfridge1858–1947 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 24
Peter Cooper1791–1883 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders20 decades - 25
Charles Yerkes1837–1905 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 26
Samuel P. Bush1863–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 27
Cyrus West Field1819–1892 · 🇺🇸 United States · Founders0 decades - 28
John Francis Dodge1864–1920 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 29
William Wrigley1861–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 30
Julius Rosenwald1862–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 31
Charles Lewis Tiffany1812–1902 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 32
Eliphalet Remington1793–1861 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 33
William Colgate1783–1857 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 34
Charles Francis Brush1849–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 35
William Fargo1818–1881 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 36
Samuel Slater1768–1835 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 37
Mary Ellen Pleasant1814–1904 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 38
James J. Hill1838–1916 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 39
Leonard Jerome1817–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 40
Edward Henry Harriman1848–1909 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 41
James Gamble1803–1891 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 42
Theodore Roosevelt Sr.1831–1878 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 43
Henry Wells1805–1878 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 44
Daniel Guggenheim1856–1930 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 45
George Dunton Widener1861–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 46
Marshall Field1834–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 47
John Munro Longyear1850–1922 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
- 48
Bertha Palmer1849–1918 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 49
Richard Warren Sears1863–1914 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 50
Joseph Seligman1819–1880 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 51
Frederic Tudor1783–1864 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 52
Cornelius Vanderbilt II1843–1899 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 53
William D. Boyce1858–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 54
Henry E. Huntington1850–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 55
Henry Huttleston Rogers1840–1909 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 56
William Procter1801–1884 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 57
Philip Danforth Armour1832–1901 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 58
Samuel Henry Kress1863–1955 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 59
William B. Franklin1823–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 60
William Rockefeller Sr.1810–1906 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 61
Gustavus Franklin Swift1839–1903 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 62
Elwood Haynes1857–1925 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 63
Samuel Sachs1851–1935 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 64
William Cornelius Van Horne1843–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 65
Collis Potter Huntington1821–1900 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 66
Matthias W. Baldwin1795–1866 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 67
Martha Matilda Harper1857–1950 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 68
Charles Ranlett Flint1850–1934 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 69
James Ward Packard1863–1928 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 70
Fredericka Mandelbaum1825–1894 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
- 71
Adolphus Busch I1839–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 72
Benjamin Altman1840–1913 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 73
R. J. Reynolds1850–1918 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 74
Charles Crocker1822–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 75
Frederick Stark Pearson1861–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 76
John Murray Forbes1813–1898 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 77
George Safford Parker1863–1937 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 78
Charles Williams Nash1864–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 79
William Backhouse Astor, Sr.1792–1875 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 80
Robert S. Brookings1850–1932 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 81
William Wirt Winchester1837–1881 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 82
Walter Donald Douglas1861–1912 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 83
James Forten1766–1842 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 84
Minor Cooper Keith1848–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 85
Claus Spreckels1828–1908 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 86
Edward C. Clark1811–1882 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 87
Godfrey Lowell Cabot1861–1962 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 88
Charles Deering1852–1927 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 89
Henry Osborne Havemeyer1847–1907 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured—
- 90
William Phelps Eno1858–1945 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 91
Louis Bamberger1855–1944 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 92
Charles T. Hinde1832–1915 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 93
Rowland Hussey Macy1822–1877 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 94
Bernard Kroger1860–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 95
Alvah Curtis Roebuck1864–1948 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 96
Frederick Miller1824–1888 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 97
Peter Demens1849–1919 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 98
George Dayton1857–1938 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 99
Henry Varnum Poor1812–1905 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot measured— - 100
Benjamin Newton Duke1855–1929 · 🇺🇸 United States · Foundersnot 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.