2000
#11,388
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,537
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.94
Rare Last name
Deemer
One who judges or arbitrates, derived from the Middle English word "demen" meaning "to judge or condemn."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,688 Americans carry the last name Deemer. That puts it at #12,591 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.78 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 127,513 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Deemer 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
2.7K
1 in 127,513
Census rank
#12,591
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,344 bearers of the surname Deemer in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.78 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12591st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Deemer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Deemer
The surname DEEMER is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "deme," which means "judge" or "arbiter." This suggests that the name was likely first borne by someone who held a position of authority or acted as a mediator in legal or administrative matters.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1199, where a certain William le Demere is mentioned. This particular spelling variation, "le Demere," offers insight into the name's evolution over time.
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Deymer" and "Deymor," reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations common in that era. Records from this period indicate that individuals bearing this surname were predominantly concentrated in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.
In the 14th century, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like document, includes the name "John le Demer," further solidifying the association of the name with the legal profession or administrative roles.
One notable historical figure bearing the DEEMER surname was Sir Edward Deemer (1543-1607), a distinguished lawyer and member of the Inner Temple in London. He served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and was known for his expertise in property law.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Deemer (1620-1687), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Warwickshire. He played a significant role in the local community and served as a magistrate and Justice of the Peace.
In the 18th century, the DEEMER name gained recognition through the work of Reverend James Deemer (1735-1812), an esteemed clergyman and author from Staffordshire. His published works on theology and moral philosophy garnered widespread acclaim.
The 19th century saw the rise of Sir John Deemer (1823-1892), a highly respected barrister and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1886 until his death. His legal expertise and impartial judgments left a lasting impact on the British judicial system.
Lastly, the renowned artist and sculptor, Emily Deemer (1867-1942), hailing from Worcestershire, gained recognition for her intricate sculptures and her advocacy for women's rights in the arts during the early 20th century.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Deemer
Among Census respondents with the surname Deemer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Deemer 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 Deemer surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.2% · 2,115
- Hispanic or Latino2.9% · 69
- Two or more races2.9% · 67
- Black or African American2.7% · 63
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 19
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 11
Timeline
Historical Census data for Deemer
Deemer 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
#11,846
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,642
+105 bearers (+4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.90
Rank movement Down 458 places
2020
#12,591
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,344
-298 bearers (-11.3%)
Per 100,000 0.78
Rank movement Down 745 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #11,388 | 2,537 | 0.94 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #11,846 | 2,642 | 0.90 | +105 bearers (+4.1%) | Down 458 places |
| 2020 | #12,591 | 2,344 | 0.78 | -298 bearers (-11.3%) | Down 745 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 Deemer 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 | #11,846 | #12,591 | -6.3% |
| Count | 2,642 | 2,344 | -11.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.90 | 0.78 | -12.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Deemer bearers went from 2,642 to 2,344 (-11.3% change). The surname moved down 745 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,846 to #12,591.
FAQ
Deemer surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Deemer?
Name Census estimates that about 2,688 living Americans carry the surname Deemer. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 127,513 residents.
How common is Deemer?
Deemer ranks #12,591 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.78 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,344 people with the surname Deemer. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,688), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.78 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.78 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Deemer.
Has Deemer become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Deemer went from 2,642 recorded bearers to 2,344. That is a decrease of 298 (-11.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #11,846 to #12,591.
What does the Census say about the background of Deemer?
Among Census respondents with the surname Deemer, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). 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 Deemer in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.2% (2,115 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Deemer appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.2%), Hispanic (2.9%), Two or More Races (2.9%). 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 Deemer (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 Deemer mean?
One who judges or arbitrates, derived from the Middle English word "demen" meaning "to judge or condemn." 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 Deemer (0.78 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 Americans have the surname Deemer?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.