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

Alderfer, 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 Alderfer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alderfer in America

Alderfer is the 22131st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alderfer surname appeared 1,168 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 Alderfer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alderfer 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 Alderfer

The surname Alderfer originated in the German regions of Europe, specifically in the areas surrounding the Rhine River. It is derived from the Old German words "aldr" meaning "old" and "fer" meaning "traveler" or "wanderer." The name likely referred to someone who traveled long distances at a mature age.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Alderfer name can be found in a 14th-century German manuscript, where it appears as "Alderfar." This spelling variation suggests the name's evolution over time and across different dialects within the German-speaking regions.

In the 16th century, a notable individual named Hans Alderfer (1525-1592) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Mainz, Germany. His business dealings and landholdings are well-documented in local records from that era.

As the Alderfer family spread across Europe, the name appeared in various forms, such as Alderfer, Alderfar, and Alderfehr, reflecting regional dialects and spelling conventions. One notable example is Johann Alderfehr (1670-1738), a respected scholar and professor at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

The Alderfer name also found its way to the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, as German immigrants sought new opportunities in the American colonies and later the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of Jacob Alderfer (1745-1819), a farmer who settled in Pennsylvania.

Another prominent figure with the Alderfer surname was Elizabeth Alderfer (1810-1892), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Ohio and was actively involved in the early suffrage movement.

In the realm of literature, the author and poet Heinrich Alderfer (1855-1929) gained recognition for his contributions to German-American literature, preserving the cultural heritage of German immigrants in his writings.

Throughout history, the Alderfer name has been associated with various professions and accomplishments, from merchants and landowners to scholars, educators, and authors. While the name's origins can be traced back to the German regions, it has since spread across the globe, reflecting the journey and wanderings of those who bore this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alderfer

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

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

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

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