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

Farber, 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 Farber surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Farber in America

Farber is the 5077th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Farber surname appeared 6,897 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Farber.

We can also compare 2010 data for Farber 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 Farber

The surname Farber originates from the German language, derived from the word "farbe" meaning "color" or "dye." It is believed to have first emerged in the 14th century in the regions of Germany and Austria, where it was initially an occupational name for a dyer or someone involved in the dyeing trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Farber surname can be traced back to the 15th century in the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Farber was mentioned in official records dated 1463. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

During the Middle Ages, the Farber name was closely associated with the guild system, where families often passed down their occupations from generation to generation. Dyers played an essential role in the textile industry, which was a significant economic force in many European cities during that era.

While the Farber surname is predominantly of German origin, it also spread to other parts of Europe through migration and trade. In the 16th century, a family bearing the name Farber was recorded in the Netherlands, where they were likely involved in the flourishing textile industry of that region.

One notable figure in history who carried the Farber surname was Johann Farber, a German mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1668 to 1730. He is best known for his contributions to the study of comets and the calculation of their orbits.

Another individual of historical significance was Johann Georg Farber, a German botanist and physician who lived from 1668 to 1744. He authored several works on medicinal plants and is considered a pioneer in the field of pharmacognosy.

In the 19th century, the Farber name gained prominence in the artistic world with the German painter and engraver Ferdinand Farber (1816-1886), whose works were exhibited in prestigious galleries across Europe.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the influence of Samuel Farber, an American film producer and screenwriter who was born in 1924. He is best known for his collaborations with renowned directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Billy Wilder.

Throughout its long history, the Farber surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who once shared a common occupational heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Farber

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!