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

Dershem, 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 Dershem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dershem in America

Dershem is the 39607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dershem surname appeared 555 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 Dershem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dershem 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 Dershem

The surname Dershem is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "tersch," meaning "thrush," a type of small songbird. It likely originated as a nickname or occupational name for someone who had a particular affinity or occupation related to thrushes.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Dershem can be traced back to the 16th century in the German states. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hans Dershem, born in 1542 in the town of Heidelberg, located in the modern-day state of Baden-Württemberg.

In the 17th century, the surname spread to neighboring regions, with records indicating Dershem families residing in areas such as the Palatinate and Alsace. During this period, variations in spelling emerged, including Derschem, Derscheim, and Derschheimer.

The name Dershem also appears in historical documents related to the migration of German settlers to North America. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, several Dershem families emigrated from Germany to regions such as Pennsylvania and Ohio, seeking new opportunities and religious freedom.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Dershem include Johann Dershem, a prominent clockmaker from Nuremberg who lived from 1610 to 1678, renowned for his intricate and innovative timepieces. Another notable figure was Margaretha Dershem, a midwife and herbalist who practiced in the town of Heidelberg during the late 17th century.

In the 19th century, Karl Dershem, born in 1832 in the village of Esslingen, became a respected educator and author, publishing several works on German literature and linguistics. His cousin, Gustav Dershem (1848-1922), was a successful businessman and philanthropist in the city of Cologne.

One of the most prominent bearers of the Dershem name was Elise Dershem (1878-1961), a German-American painter and illustrator celebrated for her vibrant landscapes and portraits. Her works were exhibited at prestigious galleries across Europe and the United States.

While the surname Dershem is relatively uncommon today, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of Germany, with a history spanning several centuries and crossing geographic boundaries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dershem

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

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

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

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