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

Ehrsam, 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 Ehrsam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ehrsam in America

Ehrsam is the 45253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ehrsam surname appeared 473 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 Ehrsam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ehrsam 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 Ehrsam

The surname Ehrsam originates from Germany, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words "ehr" meaning honor or respect, and "sam" meaning seed or origin. The name likely referred to someone of honorable lineage or a respected family.

One of the earliest known references to the Ehrsam name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Anhalt region of Germany, dating back to the 12th century. The name appears in several charters and records from this period, suggesting that it was already an established surname among the German nobility and gentry.

In the 14th century, the Ehrsam family was recorded as owning lands and properties in the vicinity of Nürnberg, a prominent city in the Holy Roman Empire. The name also appears in various municipal records and tax rolls from this time, indicating that the family held significant social and economic status in the region.

One notable bearer of the Ehrsam name was Johannes Ehrsam, a German scholar and theologian born in Nürnberg in 1551. He studied at the University of Wittenberg and later became a professor at the University of Jena, where he taught theology and philosophy. His works include several treatises on Protestant doctrine and biblical exegesis.

Another prominent figure was Christoph Ehrsam, a German artist and engraver born in Nürnberg in 1626. He was known for his intricate copper engravings and was appointed as the court engraver to the Prince-Bishops of Bamberg. His works can be found in several art collections across Europe.

In the 18th century, the Ehrsam family had established branches in various parts of Germany, including Saxony and Bavaria. One notable member was Johann Gottfried Ehrsam, a German composer and organist born in Weissenfels in 1740. He served as the court organist for the Dukes of Saxe-Weissenfels and composed several sacred and secular works.

The name Ehrsam also appears in historical records from neighboring regions, such as Switzerland and Austria. In the 16th century, there are records of an Ehrsam family residing in the Swiss city of Basel, where they were involved in trade and commerce.

Overall, the surname Ehrsam has a rich history rooted in the German-speaking lands of Central Europe. Its meaning and association with honor and respectability have endured through the centuries, reflecting the social standing and achievements of those who bore this distinguished name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ehrsam

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

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

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

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