2000
#131,366
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bergheger
An occupational surname derived from German meaning "mountain ranger" or "mountain keeper".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 126 Americans carry the last name Bergheger. That puts it at #149,446 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,720,273 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bergheger surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
126
1 in 2,720,273
Census rank
#149,446
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
110
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 110 bearers of the surname Bergheger in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 149446th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bergheger, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bergheger
The surname BERGHEGER is of German origin, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name is a compound word, derived from the German words "Berg" meaning mountain, and "heger" which means a keeper or guardian.
In the medieval times, the name BERGHEGER likely referred to individuals who were responsible for guarding and maintaining the mountain passes and routes through the rugged terrain of the German Alps. These individuals played a crucial role in ensuring safe passage for travelers and merchants, as well as protecting the local communities from potential threats.
The earliest known record of the BERGHEGER name can be traced back to a document from the town of Freiburg in 1587, where a man named Hans BERGHEGER was listed as a resident. This document provides valuable insight into the historical presence of the name in the region.
One notable figure bearing the BERGHEGER surname was Johann BERGHEGER, born in 1662 in the town of Augsburg. He was a renowned clockmaker and inventor, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the field of timekeeping. His work was highly regarded during his lifetime, and his creations can still be found in various museums and collections today.
Another prominent individual was Wilhelm BERGHEGER (1784-1859), a German author and philosopher who wrote extensively on topics ranging from ethics to political theory. His works had a significant influence on the intellectual discourse of his time and helped shape the philosophical landscape of 19th century Germany.
In the realm of arts, the name BERGHEGER is associated with the German painter and engraver, Karl BERGHEGER (1828-1892). He was renowned for his intricate and detailed landscape paintings, capturing the beauty of the German countryside with remarkable precision and skill.
The BERGHEGER surname also gained recognition in the field of law with the contributions of Friedrich BERGHEGER (1866-1932), a prominent German jurist and legal scholar. His writings and interpretations of the German legal system had a lasting impact on the country's jurisprudence.
Throughout history, the BERGHEGER name has been documented in various official records, such as church registers, census documents, and municipal archives, further solidifying its deep roots in German culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bergheger
Among Census respondents with the surname Bergheger, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Bergheger bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bergheger surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.5% · 105
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bergheger
Bergheger appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#128,249
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
+14 bearers (+11.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 3,117 places
2020
#149,446
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
-23 bearers (-17.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 21,197 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #131,366 | 119 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #128,249 | 133 | 0.05 | +14 bearers (+11.8%) | Up 3,117 places |
| 2020 | #149,446 | 110 | 0.04 | -23 bearers (-17.3%) | Down 21,197 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bergheger surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #128,249 | #149,446 | -16.5% |
| Count | 133 | 110 | -17.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -26.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bergheger bearers went from 133 to 110 (-17.3% change). The surname moved down 21,197 positions in the national ranking, going from #128,249 to #149,446.
FAQ
Bergheger surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bergheger?
Name Census estimates that about 126 living Americans carry the surname Bergheger. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,720,273 residents.
How common is Bergheger?
Bergheger ranks #149,446 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 110 people with the surname Bergheger. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (126), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bergheger.
Has Bergheger become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bergheger went from 133 recorded bearers to 110. That is a decrease of 23 (-17.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #128,249 to #149,446.
What does the Census say about the background of Bergheger?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bergheger, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Black (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bergheger in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.5% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bergheger appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.5%), Two or More Races (2.7%), Black (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bergheger (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bergheger mean?
An occupational surname derived from German meaning "mountain ranger" or "mountain keeper". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bergheger (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Bergheger?
Want to know how many people have the surname Bergheger? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.