Claim profile
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 Chinese books during the 19th century — whenever they lived.

In books written inEnglish18,114German3,599French3,347Italian1,787Spanish1,162Russian325Hebrew105Chinese9
  1. 1Zhu XiZhu Xi1130–1200 · 12th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers870
  2. 2Li HongzhangLi Hongzhang1823–1901 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians149
  3. 3Zhang ZhidongZhang Zhidong1837–1909 · 19th century · Politicians86
  4. 4Zuo ZongtangZuo Zongtang1812–1885 · 19th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians43
  5. 5Ban GuBan Gu32–92 · 1st century · Writers40
  6. 6Ge HongGe Hong284–364 · 4th century · Academics40
  7. 7CSChen Shou233–297 · 3rd century · Writers14
  8. 8Mao ZedongMao Zedong1893–1976 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Politicians12
  9. 9Lu XunLu Xun1881–1936 · 20th century · 🇨🇳 China · Writers11

Lived then

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

CountryAll🇺🇸 United States🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇮🇹 Italy🇪🇸 Spain🇯🇵 Japan🇦🇹 Austria🇹🇷 Turkey🇸🇪 Sweden
FieldAllPoliticiansWritersHistorical FiguresScientistsAcademicsArtistsMusiciansDoctorsFoundersJournalists
  1. 1Emperor MeijiEmperor Meiji1852–1912 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures11 decades
  2. 2HiroshigeHiroshige1797–1858 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  3. 3Kanō JigorōKanō Jigorō1860–1938 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Educators0 decades
  4. 4Itō HirobumiItō Hirobumi1841–1909 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  5. 5Saigō TakamoriSaigō Takamori1828–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  6. 6Tōgō HeihachirōTōgō Heihachirō1848–1934 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  7. 7Emperor KōmeiEmperor Kōmei1831–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Models0 decades
  8. 8Tokugawa YoshinobuTokugawa Yoshinobu1837–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  9. 9Sakamoto RyōmaSakamoto Ryōma1836–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  10. 10Kitasato ShibasaburōKitasato Shibasaburō1853–1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academics0 decades
  11. 11Takahashi KorekiyoTakahashi Korekiyo1854–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  12. 12Ichiyō HiguchiIchiyō Higuchi1872–1896 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured—
  13. 13Mori ŌgaiMori Ōgai1862–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  14. 14Tanaka GiichiTanaka Giichi1864–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  15. 15Matsukata MasayoshiMatsukata Masayoshi1835–1924 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  16. 16Tokugawa IemochiTokugawa Iemochi1846–1866 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  17. 17Emperor NinkōEmperor Ninkō1800–1846 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  18. 18Yamamoto GonnohyōeYamamoto Gonnohyōe1852–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  19. 19Nogi MaresukeNogi Maresuke1849–1912 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  20. 20Fukuzawa YukichiFukuzawa Yukichi1835–1901 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Educators7 decades
  21. 21Utagawa KuniyoshiUtagawa Kuniyoshi1798–1861 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  22. 22Ōkubo ToshimichiŌkubo Toshimichi1830–1878 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  23. 23Ōyama IwaoŌyama Iwao1842–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  24. 24Nitobe InazōNitobe Inazō1862–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Educators0 decades
  25. 25Iwasaki YatarōIwasaki Yatarō1835–1885 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Founders0 decades
  26. 26Emperor KōkakuEmperor Kōkaku1771–1840 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  27. 27Saitō MakotoSaitō Makoto1858–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  28. 28Yoshida ShōinYoshida Shōin1830–1859 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  29. 29Kido TakayoshiKido Takayoshi1833–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  30. 30Tokugawa IesadaTokugawa Iesada1824–1858 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  31. 31Tokugawa IeyoshiTokugawa Ieyoshi1793–1853 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  32. 32Empress ShōkenEmpress Shōken1849–1914 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  33. 33Iwakura TomomiIwakura Tomomi1825–1883 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  34. 34Itagaki TaisukeItagaki Taisuke1837–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  35. 35Tokugawa IenariTokugawa Ienari1773–1841 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  36. 36Enomoto TakeakiEnomoto Takeaki1836–1908 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  37. 37Katō TakaakiKatō Takaaki1860–1926 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  38. 38Yamagata AritomoYamagata Aritomo1838–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians3 decades
  39. 39FYFusajirō Yamauchi1859–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured—
  40. 40Katsu KaishūKatsu Kaishū1823–1899 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  41. 41Sanjō SanetomiSanjō Sanetomi1837–1891 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  42. 42Ōkuma ShigenobuŌkuma Shigenobu1838–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  43. 43Katō TomosaburōKatō Tomosaburō1861–1923 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  44. 44Inukai TsuyoshiInukai Tsuyoshi1855–1932 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  45. 45Futabatei ShimeiFutabatei Shimei1864–1909 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  46. 46Hara TakashiHara Takashi1856–1921 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  47. 47YoshitoshiYoshitoshi1839–1892 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  48. 48Okakura KakuzōOkakura Kakuzō1863–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  49. 49Kusumoto IneKusumoto Ine1827–1903 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Doctorsnot measured—
  50. 50Ii NaosukeIi Naosuke1815–1860 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  51. 51Kiyoura KeigoKiyoura Keigo1850–1942 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  52. 52Kondō IsamiKondō Isami1834–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  53. 53Kikunae IkedaKikunae Ikeda1864–1936 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientists0 decades
  54. 54Inoue KaoruInoue Kaoru1836–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  55. 55Saionji KinmochiSaionji Kinmochi1849–1940 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  56. 56Tsuda UmekoTsuda Umeko1864–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  57. 57Tsubouchi ShōyōTsubouchi Shōyō1859–1935 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  58. 58Gotō ShinpeiGotō Shinpei1857–1929 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  59. 59Shibusawa EiichiShibusawa Eiichi1840–1931 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured—
  60. 60Takasugi ShinsakuTakasugi Shinsaku1839–1867 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  61. 61Katsura TarōKatsura Tarō1848–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  62. 62Terauchi MasatakeTerauchi Masatake1852–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  63. 63Okita SōjiOkita Sōji1842–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  64. 64Nakano TakekoNakano Takeko1847–1868 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  65. 65Sen KatayamaSen Katayama1859–1933 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Journalists0 decades
  66. 66Utagawa KunisadaUtagawa Kunisada1786–1865 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  67. 67Saitō HajimeSaitō Hajime1844–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  68. 68Matsudaira KatamoriMatsudaira Katamori1836–1893 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  69. 69Takeda SōkakuTakeda Sōkaku1859–1943 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  70. 70Nobu ShiraseNobu Shirase1861–1946 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures0 decades
  71. 71Sakuma ShōzanSakuma Shōzan1811–1864 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  72. 72Tomitaro MakinoTomitaro Makino1862–1957 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientistsnot measured—
  73. 73Torakusu YamahaTorakusu Yamaha1851–1916 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Founders0 decades
  74. 74Honinbo ShusakuHoninbo Shusaku1829–1862 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  75. 75Shōjirō GotōShōjirō Gotō1838–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  76. 76Saigō TsugumichiSaigō Tsugumichi1843–1902 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  77. 77Kuroda KiyotakaKuroda Kiyotaka1840–1900 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  78. 78Akashi MotojiroAkashi Motojiro1864–1919 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  79. 79Tanaka HisashigeTanaka Hisashige1799–1881 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientistsnot measured—
  80. 80Ninomiya SontokuNinomiya Sontoku1787–1856 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academicsnot measured—
  81. 81Kabayama SukenoriKabayama Sukenori1837–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  82. 82Mutsu MunemitsuMutsu Munemitsu1844–1897 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Tokugawa NariakiTokugawa Nariaki1800–1860 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  84. 84Mikimoto KōkichiMikimoto Kōkichi1858–1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Foundersnot measured—
  85. 85Hirata AtsutaneHirata Atsutane1776–1843 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured—
  86. 86Nakahama ManjirōNakahama Manjirō1827–1898 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Academicsnot measured—
  87. 87Nakayama YoshikoNakayama Yoshiko1836–1907 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  88. 88Abe MasahiroAbe Masahiro1819–1857 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  89. 89Takamine JōkichiTakamine Jōkichi1854–1922 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Scientistsnot measured—
  90. 90Makino NobuakiMakino Nobuaki1861–1949 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  91. 91Mori ArinoriMori Arinori1847–1889 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  92. 92Ito SukeyukiIto Sukeyuki1843–1914 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  93. 93Kanzō UchimuraKanzō Uchimura1861–1930 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured—
  94. 94Yukio OzakiYukio Ozaki1858–1954 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  95. 95Keisai EisenKeisai Eisen1790–1848 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artistsnot measured—
  96. 96Ogino GinkoOgino Ginko1851–1913 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Doctorsnot measured—
  97. 97Ankō ItosuAnkō Itosu1831–1915 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  98. 98Kawakami GensaiKawakami Gensai1834–1872 · 🇯🇵 Japannot measured—
  99. 99Ōmura MasujirōŌmura Masujirō1824–1869 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politiciansnot measured—
  100. 100Chikako, Princess KazuChikako, Princess Kazu1846–1877 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figuresnot 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.