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

Bodker, 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 Bodker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bodker in America

Bodker is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bodker surname appeared 103 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 Bodker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bodker 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 Bodker

The surname Bodker is of Danish origin, believed to have emerged in the late medieval period around the 14th or 15th century. It is derived from the Old Danish word "bodker," which referred to a cooper or barrel maker. This occupation was an important trade in Denmark, where barrels and casks were essential for storing and transporting goods such as beer, fish, and other provisions.

The earliest known record of the Bodker surname dates back to the late 15th century in the town of Odense, Denmark. A document from 1487 mentions a certain Peder Bodker, who was likely a cooper by trade. Another early reference is found in the Lund Diocesan Records from 1523, which lists a Jens Bodker from the town of Svendborg.

The Bodker surname was initially concentrated in the Danish regions of Funen and Zealand, where coopering was a thriving industry. Over time, it spread to other parts of Denmark and neighboring regions as families migrated and established themselves in new areas.

One notable individual with the Bodker surname was Jørgen Bodker (1585-1632), a Danish naval officer who served as an admiral in the Dano-Norwegian Navy during the Kalmar War against Sweden. He played a crucial role in several naval battles, including the Battle of Fehmarn Belt in 1628.

Another historically significant figure was Hans Bodker (1632-1698), a Danish merchant and shipowner from Copenhagen. He was a prominent figure in the city's maritime trade and contributed to the development of the Danish East India Company in the late 17th century.

In the literary realm, Jens Andreas Bodker (1847-1927) was a Danish writer and poet who gained recognition for his lyrical works and translations. He was a member of the Danish Academy and played a role in the cultural life of Copenhagen during his time.

The Bodker surname also found its way to other parts of Europe, including Norway, where it is recorded as Bødker. One notable Norwegian with this surname was Johan Bødker (1883-1964), a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in Oslo, including the Oslo City Hall and the National Theatre.

Lastly, Gerhard Bodker (1865-1962) was a Danish-American artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits. He immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century and spent much of his career in California, where he became a respected figure in the art community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bodker

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

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

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

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