Find out how popular the last name Calmer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Calmer.
A surname derived from the Middle English word "calmer," meaning lime-burner or worker with calx (calcium oxide).
Calmer, 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 Calmer surname is from the 2010 census data.
Calmer is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Calmer surname appeared 188 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 Calmer.
We can also compare 2010 data for Calmer 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 96799 | 87729 | 9.83% |
Count | 188 | 197 | -4.68% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.06 | 0.07 | -15.38% |
The surname Calmer has its origins in the Normandy region of France, dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "calme," which means "calm" or "peaceful." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone known for their tranquil demeanor or composed nature.
The earliest recorded instance of the Calmer surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical record, the name appears as "Calmere," likely indicating the place of residence or origin of the individual.
During the Middle Ages, the Calmer family established a presence in various parts of Normandy, particularly in the regions around Rouen and Caen. Some members of the family were known to have participated in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, contributing to the spread of the surname across the English Channel.
One notable figure bearing the Calmer surname was Sir William Calmer (1265-1321), a Norman knight who fought alongside Edward I during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was renowned for his bravery and unwavering composure on the battlefield, earning him the admiration of his peers and the English monarch.
In the 14th century, the Calmer family expanded their influence to other parts of Europe, including the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands). During this time, the surname underwent various spelling variations, such as "Calmere," "Calmiere," and "Calmier," reflecting regional dialects and scribal practices.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Jean Calmer (1480-1548), a French scholar and humanist who made significant contributions to the study of classical literature. He was widely respected for his erudition and served as a tutor to several noble families in Paris.
As the Calmer family continued to spread across Europe, they left their mark in various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts. One notable figure was Johann Calmer (1675-1737), a German playwright and poet who was celebrated for his satirical works and insightful commentary on social and political issues of his time.
The surname Calmer has also been associated with several place names, such as Calmer Manor in Dorset, England, and Calmer Hill in Scotland, further solidifying its historical significance and geographic reach.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Calmer.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Calmer was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 88.30% | 166 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 2.66% | 5 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 2.66% | 5 |
Hispanic Origin | 4.79% | 9 |
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 Calmer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 88.30% | 91.37% | -3.42% |
Black | 2.66% | 2.54% | 4.62% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | 2.66% | (S)% | (S)% |
Hispanic | 4.79% | 4.06% | 16.50% |
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 Calmer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/calmer-surname-popularity/">Calmer last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Calmer last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 28, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/calmer-surname-popularity/.
"Calmer last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/calmer-surname-popularity/. Accessed 28 April, 2025
Calmer last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/calmer-surname-popularity/.
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