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

Erker, 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 Erker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Erker in America

Erker is the 40204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Erker surname appeared 545 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 Erker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Erker 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 Erker

The surname Erker is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "erker," which referred to a projecting bay window or oriel window, commonly found in medieval architecture.

The name Erker was initially concentrated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and the surrounding areas. It is likely that the name arose as an occupational surname, given to individuals who were involved in the construction or maintenance of these architectural features.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Erker can be found in the Stadtbuch (city book) of Regensburg, a Bavarian city, dating back to the 14th century. This document mentions a certain "Hans Erker," indicating the presence of this surname in the region during that time period.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Johann Erker (c. 1420-1500) was a renowned German sculptor and woodcarver from Nuremberg. His works adorned churches and public buildings across southern Germany, showcasing his exceptional craftsmanship.

The Erker name also appeared in the historical records of the city of Augsburg, where a family bearing this surname was mentioned in the Augsburger Steuerbücher (Augsburg tax records) from the 16th century.

Another prominent individual was Georg Erker (1597-1675), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as the mayor of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a picturesque medieval town in Bavaria. His contributions to local governance and legal practices were significant during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Johann Baptist Erker (1707-1779) was a Bavarian painter and fresco artist known for his religious works adorning churches and monasteries in the region. His artistic talent earned him commissions from various religious institutions.

The surname Erker has also been associated with several place names in southern Germany, such as Erkersreuth, a town located in Bavaria. This connection further reinforces the name's geographic origins and its potential connection to architectural features or specific locations.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Erker has maintained a strong presence in Germany, particularly in the southern regions, where it has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Erker

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

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

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

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