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

Alther, 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 Alther surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Alther in America

Alther is the 84136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Alther surname appeared 223 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 Alther.

We can also compare 2010 data for Alther 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 Alther

The surname ALTHER is believed to have originated in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old High German word "alt," meaning "old," and the suffix "-er," indicating an occupational name or a place of origin. This suggests that the name ALTHER was likely given to someone who lived near an old or ancient settlement.

Early records show variations in spelling, such as Aelter, Aeldter, and Alther. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the parish records of Saxony, where a certain Johann Alther was listed as a resident in the year 1587.

In the 17th century, the name ALTHER appeared in various historical documents across different regions of Germany. Notable mentions include Hans Alther, a merchant from Nuremberg, who was born in 1612, and Gertrude Alther, a midwife from Cologne, whose birth year is recorded as 1639.

As the name spread across Europe, it was adopted by several prominent figures. One such individual was Johann Alther, a German composer and organist who lived from 1588 to 1638. His works were renowned during the Renaissance period and contributed to the development of Lutheran church music.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Karl Alther, a German-born American artist and lithographer, who was active in the late 19th century. Born in 1837, he immigrated to the United States and became known for his intricate landscape paintings and illustrations.

In England, the name ALTHER can be traced back to the 18th century, when records show a family with this surname residing in the county of Yorkshire. One of the earliest documented individuals was William Alther, a farmer born in 1712 in the village of Cottingham.

Throughout history, the ALTHER name has been associated with various professions, including merchants, artisans, and farmers. While not as widespread as some other surnames, it has left its mark across different regions and contributed to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Alther

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

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

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

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