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

Draeger, 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 Draeger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Draeger in America

Draeger is the 13466th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Draeger surname appeared 2,261 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 Draeger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Draeger 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 Draeger

The surname Draeger has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. The name is derived from the German word "dragen," which means "to carry" or "to bear." It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who worked as porters or carriers, transporting goods or materials.

The earliest recorded instances of the Draeger surname can be traced back to the medieval German cities of Hamburg and Bremen. In these bustling trade centers, individuals with this occupation were integral to the movement of goods and merchandise. The name is also found in various historical documents from the region, including tax records and guild registers.

One notable early bearer of the Draeger surname was Hans Draeger, a merchant from Lübeck who lived in the 15th century. He was a successful trader and played a significant role in the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe.

In the 16th century, the Draeger family established itself in the town of Quedlinburg, located in present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Johann Draeger, born in 1542, was a respected member of the community and served as a city councilor.

As the centuries passed, individuals with the Draeger surname spread throughout various regions of Germany and beyond. One notable figure was Friedrich Draeger, born in 1785 in Hannover. He was a renowned scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of the German language and its dialects.

Another prominent Draeger was Karl Draeger, born in 1870 in Berlin. He was a celebrated architect and urban planner, known for his innovative designs and his role in shaping the modern cityscape of Berlin in the early 20th century.

The Draeger surname has also been found in other European countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, likely due to migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the German regions, where it first emerged as an occupational surname for those involved in the transportation and carrying of goods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Draeger

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

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

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

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