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

Dern, 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 Dern surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dern in America

Dern is the 39004th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dern surname appeared 565 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 Dern.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dern 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 Dern

The surname DERN is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "derne," meaning "thorn" or "bramble bush." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a thorny thicket or a place with an abundance of brambles.

One of the earliest known references to the surname DERN can be found in the German Church Records of Saxony from the mid-16th century. These records document individuals with the surname DERN residing in various towns and villages across the region.

In the 17th century, the surname DERN appeared in the records of the Free Imperial City of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in present-day Bavaria, Germany. The name was associated with families who were involved in various trades and professions within the city.

During the 18th century, the surname DERN spread across various parts of Germany, as well as to neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. This was likely due to migration and the movement of people during that time period.

One notable individual with the surname DERN was Johann Andreas DERN (1693-1776), a German theologian and Lutheran pastor who served in the town of Wertheim, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Another prominent figure was Karl Friedrich DERN (1765-1853), a German painter and engraver from Leipzig, who was renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting scenes from the surrounding countryside.

In the 19th century, the surname DERN was documented in various German-speaking regions, including parts of modern-day Poland and the Czech Republic, which were once part of the German Empire.

One notable individual from this era was Emil DERN (1829-1901), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities in Germany.

As German immigrants began to migrate to other parts of the world, the surname DERN spread to various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.

One prominent American with the surname DERN was Bruce DERN (born 1936), an acclaimed actor known for his roles in films such as "Coming Home," "Monster," and "Nebraska." He was born in Winona, Illinois, and has had a prolific career spanning over six decades.

While the surname DERN is not among the most common surnames globally, it has a rich history rooted in German heritage, with a meaning that likely ties back to the natural landscape and vegetation of the regions where it first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dern

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

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

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

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