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

Erhard, 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 Erhard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erhard in America

Erhard is the 25003rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erhard surname appeared 994 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 Erhard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Erhard 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 Erhard

The surname Erhard originated in Germany, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German words "ero," meaning honor, and "hart," meaning hardy or brave. Together, these words formed the name "Erhart" or "Erhard," which was given to individuals who were considered honorable and courageous.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Erhard can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century that documented property transfers and legal transactions in the region of Westphalia, Germany. The name appears multiple times in this document, suggesting that it was already well-established in the area during that time period.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to other parts of Germany, and variations such as Erhart, Erhard, and Ehrhard began to emerge. These variations were often associated with specific geographical locations, as was common with many German surnames during that era.

One notable figure bearing the name Erhard was Thomas Erhard, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1493 to 1576. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and worked closely with Martin Luther, helping to spread the teachings of the Reformation throughout Germany.

Another important individual with the surname Erhard was Johann Erhard, a German architect and builder who lived from 1554 to 1628. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in Nuremberg, including the Pellerhaus and the Schöner Brunnen, which are considered masterpieces of Renaissance architecture.

In the 19th century, the name Erhard gained further prominence with the birth of Johann August Erhard, a German philosopher and educator who lived from 1793 to 1851. He was a proponent of the "Erziehungsanstalt" (educational institution) movement, which sought to reform education in Germany through the establishment of boarding schools that emphasized moral and character development.

Other notable individuals with the surname Erhard include Theodor Erhard, a German painter and illustrator who lived from 1819 to 1876, and Hugo Erhard, a German industrialist and inventor who lived from 1857 to 1915 and was responsible for developing several important innovations in the field of textile manufacturing.

While the surname Erhard has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it has been a part of the cultural and linguistic landscape for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erhard

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

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

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

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