Find out how popular the last name Acher is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Acher.

Acher, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Acher surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Acher in America

Acher is the 144908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acher surname appeared 105 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Acher.

The history of the last name Acher

The surname Acher is believed to have originated in Germany around the medieval period. It is derived from the Middle High German word "acker," meaning "field" or "acre," signifying an agricultural connection. The name likely described someone who lived near or worked on farmland, indicating a topographical origin. Similar spellings in early records include Ackermann and Acker, which also relate to agrarian occupations.

Historical references to the name Acher can be found in various old records. One notable appearance is in the tax rolls of the Rhineland region during the 13th century, where a Johann Acher was listed as a landowner in 1275. This indicates the prominence of individuals bearing this surname in agricultural communities.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Acher can be traced back to the 12th century, with Hannes Acher, a farmer in Bavaria, mentioned in a 1198 charter documenting land transactions. Another significant record from the 14th century is a Hans Acher, a member of the local guild in the town of Mainz, who appears in guild records dating to 1362. These references suggest that the name was relatively widespread across German-speaking regions.

The name Acher can also be associated with place names in Germany. For instance, Acheronbach, a small village, derives its name from the Acher family who historically owned much of the land there. The village has records dating back to the 15th century, linking it to the family.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Acher. One such person is Wilhelm Acher, born in 1456, a prominent merchant in Frankfurt who played a significant role in regional trade during the late 15th century. Another notable figure is Heinrich Acher, a jurist born in 1523 who served as a legal advisor in the court of Nuremberg until his death in 1589.

The surname continued to appear in significant historical documents, such as the marriage record of Friederich Acher, a respected forester born in 1652, who wed Maria Müller in 1678. His contributions to forestry practices were well-regarded in his community. Jacob Acher, born in 1731, was a noted theologian whose works were influential in the Protestant Reformation movement in southern Germany.

In the 19th century, the industrial revolution saw another prominent Acher, Ludwig Acher, born in 1810, who was an early entrepreneur in mechanical engineering. His innovations contributed to the mechanization of agriculture, aligning with the surname's agrarian roots. Marie Acher, born in 1875, became a renowned novelist whose works depicted rural German life, drawing heavily on her family history and the meaning behind her surname.

The surname Acher, with its strong association with agriculture and notable presence in historical records, reflects a long and rich heritage tied to the land and the people who cultivated it. Its various spellings and occurrences throughout history highlight the enduring and evolving nature of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acher

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Acher.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Acher was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Acher was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Acher, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!