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

Beckner, 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 Beckner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beckner in America

Beckner is the 6199th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beckner surname appeared 5,516 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Beckner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beckner 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 Beckner

The surname Beckner has its origins in Germany, emerging in the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "becke," meaning "brook" or "stream," indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a small body of water.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the town of Becknered, located in what is now the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This town's name is thought to have influenced the development of the surname Beckner. The name also appeared in various manuscripts and records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with spellings such as "Beckner," "Beckener," and "Becker."

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Hans Beckner (1515-1587) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Nuremberg. His success and wealth contributed to the recognition of the Beckner name during this period.

Another individual of note was Johann Beckner (1630-1692), a Lutheran theologian and author who wrote several influential works on religious doctrine and philosophy. His writings were widely circulated throughout German-speaking regions in the 17th century.

In the 19th century, a man named Friedrich Beckner (1825-1897) was a renowned architect who designed several iconic buildings in Berlin, including the Reichstag and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. His contributions to German architecture cemented the Beckner name in the annals of history.

Crossing the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Beckner surname in North America was in 1738, when a family by the name of Beckner settled in the colony of Pennsylvania. This family's descendants would later spread throughout the United States, with some members becoming prominent figures in their respective communities.

Another notable individual was Wilhelm Beckner (1877-1942), a German-American inventor and engineer who held several patents for innovations in the field of telecommunications. His work played a significant role in the development of early radio technology.

Throughout its history, the surname Beckner has been associated with various occupations and achievements, ranging from merchants and landowners to theologians, architects, and inventors. Its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it likely referred to those who lived near small streams or brooks.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beckner

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

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

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

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