2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Differ
A surname originating from the word "differ," potentially indicating distinction or divergence.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Differ. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Differ 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Differ with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Differ in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Differ, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.9%) and Black (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Differ
The surname Differ is of German origin and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from the old German word 'differ', which means 'different' or 'distinct'. This name was likely given to someone who stood out from the rest or was considered unique in some way.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Differ can be found in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to the late 1300s. It is mentioned in a manuscript that details the names of various tradesmen and craftsmen who lived and worked in the city during that time period.
In the 15th century, the name Differ appeared in several legal documents and property records in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. This suggests that families with this surname had established themselves in these areas and were likely involved in various professions or trades.
Interestingly, there is a small village in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, called Differten. While it is not directly related to the surname Differ, the similarity in the name's spelling suggests a possible connection or origin.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Differ was Hans Differ, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the city of Frankfurt in the late 16th century. His business dealings and transactions were well-documented in the city's archives, providing valuable insights into the commercial activities of that time.
Another significant figure was Johann Friedrich Differ, a renowned theologian and philosopher who was born in Saxony in 1673. He made significant contributions to the field of Christian apologetics and authored several influential works on faith and reason.
In the 18th century, a family of artists and painters emerged with the surname Differ. The most famous among them was Jakob Differ, who was born in 1742 in the city of Nuremberg. His landscape paintings and portraiture were highly regarded and can still be found in various museums and private collections across Europe.
The 19th century saw the rise of Wilhelm Differ, a German industrialist and entrepreneur who played a key role in the development of the steel industry in the Ruhr region. His innovative techniques and business acumen led to the establishment of several successful steel mills and factories.
Lastly, in the early 20th century, a notable figure named Margarete Differ gained recognition as a pioneering advocate for women's rights and suffrage in Germany. Her tireless efforts and activism helped pave the way for greater gender equality and political representation for women in her country.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Differ
Among Census respondents with the surname Differ, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.9%) and Black (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Differ 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 Differ surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.7% · 96
- Hispanic or Latino8.9% · 10
- Black or African American2.7% · 3
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Differ
Differ 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
#152,628
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-4 bearers (-3.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 13,887 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+5 bearers (+4.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,674 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #152,628 | 107 | 0.04 | -4 bearers (-3.6%) | Down 13,887 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.7%) | Up 4,674 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 Differ 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 | #152,628 | #147,954 | 3.1% |
| Count | 107 | 112 | 4.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Differ bearers went from 107 to 112 (+4.7% change). The surname moved up 4,674 positions in the national ranking, going from #152,628 to #147,954.
FAQ
Differ surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Differ?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Differ. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Differ?
Differ ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Differ. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Differ.
Has Differ become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Differ went from 107 recorded bearers to 112. That is an increase of 5 (+4.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #152,628 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Differ?
Among Census respondents with the surname Differ, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.9%) and Black (2.7%). 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 Differ in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.7% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Differ appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.7%), Hispanic (8.9%), Black (2.7%). 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 Differ (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 Differ mean?
A surname originating from the word "differ," potentially indicating distinction or divergence. 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 Differ (0.04 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 Differ?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.