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

Derringer, 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 Derringer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Derringer in America

Derringer is the 15080th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Derringer surname appeared 1,956 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Derringer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Derringer 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 Derringer

The surname Derringer is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "dörfer," meaning "villages" or "small towns." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who hailed from a rural area or a cluster of villages.

One of the earliest known references to the Derringer name can be found in the German church records of the town of Alsfeld, located in the state of Hesse. These records mention a Johannes Derringer, who was born in 1587. It is possible that this individual or his ancestors were among the first to bear the surname.

In the late 17th century, the Derringer name began appearing in various regions of what is now modern-day Germany. For example, a Johann Derringer was recorded in the town of Schönau, in the Palatinate region, in 1678. Additionally, a Hans Derringer was listed in the records of the town of Kempten, in Bavaria, in 1692.

As the centuries progressed, the Derringer name spread to other parts of Europe and beyond. One notable individual was Johann Friedrich Derringer, a German-born architect who lived from 1753 to 1827. He is best known for his work on the construction of the iconic Frauenkirche in Dresden, which was completed in 1743.

Another prominent figure bearing the Derringer surname was Henry Deringer Jr., an American gunsmith who lived from 1786 to 1868. He is credited with designing and manufacturing the Derringer pistol, a compact single-shot firearm that became popular in the 19th century.

In the United Kingdom, the Derringer name can be traced back to the early 19th century. One notable individual was William Derringer, a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1789 and died in 1865.

Other historical figures with the Derringer surname include Johann Georg Derringer, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1610 to 1680, and Friedrich Wilhelm Derringer, a German author and educator who was born in 1782 and died in 1853.

While the Derringer name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references provide valuable insights into the origins and evolution of this surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Derringer

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

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

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

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