Der'Ber last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Der'Ber

A surname originating from the German word "derb" meaning sturdy or stout.

Der'Ber, 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 Der'Ber surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Der'Ber in America

Der'Ber is the 117538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Der'Ber surname appeared 137 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Der'Ber.

The history of the last name Der'Ber

The surname Derber finds its origins in Central Europe, with strong indications pointing towards German-speaking regions. The name likely originated in the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 13th centuries. It is derived from the Middle High German word "derber," meaning robust or strong, which was a descriptive surname given to individuals known for their strength or sturdiness. The name was prominently found in areas such as Bavaria and parts of modern-day Austria.

Historical references to the surname Derber can be found in various medieval manuscripts and records. While the Domesday Book does not contain this surname, Germanic equivalent documents like the Codex Manesse or various local registers from German towns may hold early mentions of the name. One such early record from 1312, situated in the Bavarian town of Regensburg, mentions a Heinrich Derber as a notable landowner.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Derber includes Johann Derber, a merchant born around 1380 in Augsburg. He was known for his trade in textiles and was instrumental in establishing trade routes between Germany and Italy. His contributions to trade were significant during the late 14th and early 15th centuries, and his name appears in multiple commercial documents of the time.

Another notable figure is Hans Derber, a military officer born in 1435, who served under the Duke of Bavaria during the conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. His valor and strategic acumen were praised in the chronicles of the time. His service is recorded in military documents dating back to the 1470s, and he was a well-regarded figure until his death in 1502.

Maria Derber, born in 1567, was a prominent figure in the town of Innsbruck. Known for her philanthropic work, Maria established several charitable institutions and was actively involved in community services, particularly during the famine of 1590. Documents from local churches and civic records extensively note her contributions and her legacy in improving social welfare.

In the early 17th century, we come across Johann Friedrich Derber, a scholar and cartographer, who was born in 1605 in Leipzig. He made significant contributions to geographic studies and map-making practices of his time. His detailed maps of the German territories are still referenced for historical research. His most notable work "Germania Antiqua," published in 1642, provided a profoundly detailed look at the regions of Germany.

By the 18th century, the name had spread beyond German-speaking areas. For instance, Wilhelm Derber, born in 1762, emigrated to Eastern Europe, settling in what is now Lithuania. He established himself as a successful trader and later went into politics, becoming an influential figure in Vilnius. His political career, stretching into the early 19th century, included efforts to improve trade regulations and support local interests, with extensive records available from the Russian Imperial archives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Der'Ber

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Der'Ber.

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Der'Ber was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.35% 132
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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 Der'Ber was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Der'Ber last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/derber-surname-popularity/.

"Der'Ber last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/derber-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 July, 2025

Der'Ber last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/derber-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.