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

Erath, 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 Erath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erath in America

Erath is the 54752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erath surname appeared 376 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 Erath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Erath 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 Erath

The surname Erath is of German origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the Old German word "ered," which means "earth" or "soil." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who worked the land or lived in a specific geographic region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Erath surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the Kingdom of Saxony, dated around the 13th century. In these records, the name is spelled as "Erat" or "Errath."

During the 15th century, the Erath surname gained prominence in the region of Franconia, which is now part of modern-day Bavaria, Germany. Historical records from this period mention several notable individuals bearing this name, including Hans Erath (c. 1430-1505), a respected magistrate and landowner in the town of Nuremberg.

Another significant figure associated with the Erath surname is Johann Baptist Erath (1752-1834), a German architect and urban planner who contributed significantly to the reconstruction and urban development of Munich in the early 19th century. His work left a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

In the 18th century, the Erath surname also gained recognition in the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Jacob Erath (1728-1805), a German immigrant who settled in North Carolina and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the town of Salisbury.

Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, we find Adolphus Erath (1831-1900), a German-American soldier and surveyor who is remembered for his contributions to the development of Texas. He served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and later became a prominent figure in the settlement and mapping of the state.

As the Erath surname spread across various regions, it underwent slight variations in spelling, including Errath, Eradth, and Eradt. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in its connection to the earth and soil, reflecting the occupations and lifestyles of those who bore it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erath

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

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

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

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