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

Ehrke, 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 Ehrke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ehrke in America

Ehrke is the 45886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ehrke surname appeared 465 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 Ehrke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ehrke 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 Ehrke

The surname EHRKE is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "erkan," which means "to recognize" or "to acknowledge." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who was highly regarded or respected within their community.

One of the earliest known references to the EHRKE surname can be found in a Prussian census record from 1567, which lists a family by the name of Ehrke residing in the town of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia). It is unclear whether this was the first occurrence of the name or if it had already been in use for some time prior to this record.

In the 17th century, the name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the regions of Saxony and Brandenburg, with several notable figures bearing the EHRKE surname emerging during this period. One such individual was Johann Ehrke (1605-1678), a Lutheran theologian and author who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg.

Another significant figure from this era was Friedrich Ehrke (1639-1707), a German military officer who fought in the Nine Years' War and later served as a general in the Prussian Army under King Frederick I. His exploits on the battlefield earned him a reputation as a skilled tactician and earned him the nickname "the Lion of Pomerania."

As the EHRKE name spread throughout Germany and beyond, it also underwent various spelling variations, including Erke, Ercke, and Erchen. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in early written records.

In the 19th century, the EHRKE surname gained further prominence with the birth of Carl Ehrke (1822-1898), a German engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the early steel industry. His innovations in steel production techniques helped establish Germany as a leading industrial power during this period.

Another notable figure from this era was Emma Ehrke (1858-1932), a German author and women's rights activist who campaigned tirelessly for greater educational and professional opportunities for women. Her writings and advocacy efforts helped to advance the feminist movement in Germany and inspired generations of women to pursue their ambitions.

As the centuries passed, the EHRKE surname continued to appear in various parts of Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in fields ranging from academia and the arts to politics and entrepreneurship. While the name may have originated in Germany, its legacy has become a global one, reflecting the diverse and rich tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ehrke

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

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

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

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