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

Ather, 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 Ather surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ather in America

Ather is the 107134th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ather surname appeared 166 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 Ather.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ather 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 Ather

The surname "ATHER" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "aethera," which means "nobleman" or "prince." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to denote someone of high social status or aristocratic lineage.

During the Middle Ages, the name "ATHER" can be found in various historical records and documents. One notable example is the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were well-established landowners or influential figures during the Norman period.

The earliest recorded examples of the name "ATHER" date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Sir William Ather, a knight who lived in Gloucestershire in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Another notable figure was John Ather, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name "ATHER" appeared in various records and documents, often associated with places like Atherstone in Warwickshire, Atherfield in the Isle of Wight, and Atherby in Lincolnshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and variations of the surname over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname "ATHER." One such figure was Thomas Ather (1570-1635), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Cawston in Norfolk. Another was John Ather (1597-1659), a English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War period.

In the 18th century, notable bearers of the surname included William Ather (1713-1798), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits, and Samuel Ather (1722-1795), a prominent businessman and landowner in Gloucestershire.

The name "ATHER" also has connections to various noble and aristocratic families throughout Europe. For instance, the Ather family of Bavaria, Germany, can trace their lineage back to the 15th century, with several members holding influential positions in the region's political and military spheres.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ather

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

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

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

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