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

Ahr, 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 Ahr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ahr in America

Ahr is the 41501st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ahr surname appeared 524 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ahr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ahr to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ahr

The surname Ahr has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "ahr," meaning "eagle." This indicates that the name may have been initially associated with someone who had a keen eye or a sharp, eagle-like gaze.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ahr can be found in the historical records of the city of Cologne, where a certain Wilhelm Ahr was mentioned as a prominent merchant in the year 1274. This suggests that the name had already gained some recognition and prominence by that time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Ahr surname was particularly concentrated in the regions of the Rhineland and the Palatinate, where it was often associated with landowners and members of the local nobility. The name's connection to the eagle symbol may have been a source of pride and status for those who bore it.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Johann Ahr (1420-1489) was a respected scholar and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg. His contributions to the field of theology and his academic achievements brought further recognition to the Ahr name.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Heinrich Ahr (1570-1638), a renowned painter and engraver from Nuremberg. His works, which often depicted religious and mythological scenes, were highly regarded and can still be found in various museums and private collections across Europe.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ahr surname spread to other parts of Germany, as well as neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. One noteworthy bearer of the name was Friedrich Ahr (1692-1762), a German composer and organist who was known for his contributions to the development of the Baroque musical style.

As the centuries passed, the Ahr surname continued to be associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and entrepreneurs. Some other notable figures include the German architect Karl Ahr (1825-1892), who designed several prominent buildings in Berlin, and the Austrian writer and journalist Alois Ahr (1867-1944), who was known for his satirical works and social criticism.

While the specific origins and early history of the Ahr surname may be shrouded in some mystery, its enduring presence throughout the centuries and its association with individuals of achievement and distinction have cemented its place as a respected and historically significant surname across Germany and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ahr

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ahr 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ahr has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Ahr was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ahr, 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!