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

Ehrhardt, 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 Ehrhardt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ehrhardt in America

Ehrhardt is the 11060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ehrhardt surname appeared 2,874 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 Ehrhardt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ehrhardt 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 Ehrhardt

The surname Ehrhardt originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "Erhard," which means "strong as a bear" or "brave bear." The name was initially a given name before evolving into a hereditary surname.

In the Middle Ages, the name Ehrhardt was prevalent in southern and central Germany, particularly in Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Corveyer Munstermatrikel, a manuscript from the late 12th century, which lists several individuals with the name Erhard or Erhart.

The Ehrhardt surname has been associated with notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One prominent example is Johann Ehrhardt, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1666 to 1715. He was a professor at the University of Leipzig and is recognized for his contributions to the field of ethics.

Another notable figure is Christian Traugott Ehrhardt, a German jurist and statesman who lived from 1742 to 1815. He served as the Chief Minister of Saxony-Gotha and played a significant role in the governance of the duchy during the turbulent years of the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, Christian August Ehrhardt (1795-1873) was a German artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. He studied at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts and was a member of the Saxon Academy of Arts.

The name Ehrhardt has also been associated with several place names in Germany. For instance, the town of Ehrhardt in Saxony-Anhalt is believed to have derived its name from the surname. Similarly, the village of Ehrhardtsberg in Thuringia may have been named after an individual with the surname Ehrhardt.

Among the earliest recorded examples of the name, one can find references to individuals named Erhard or Erhart in various medieval documents, such as charters, monastic records, and legal proceedings. These early records often provide insight into the occupations and social status of those bearing the name, ranging from peasants and artisans to noblemen and clergymen.

While the surname Ehrhardt has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and various historical events. Variations of the spelling, such as Erhardt, Erhart, and Erhard, can be found in various regions, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ehrhardt

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

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

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

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