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

Fehr, 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 Fehr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fehr in America

Fehr is the 7767th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fehr surname appeared 4,272 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fehr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fehr 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 Fehr

The surname FEHR has its origins in Germany, tracing back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Fahr," which means "journey" or "passage," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who traveled frequently or resided near a ferry crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name FEHR can be found in the German town of Miltenberg, located in the Franconia region of Bavaria. In the year 1586, a man named Hans FEHR was documented as a resident of the town, indicating that the name was already established by that time.

The name FEHR has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany. For example, the village of Fehren in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate may have contributed to the formation of the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on the places they lived or originated from.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname FEHR was Johann Michael FEHR, a German composer and organist born in Heidelberg in 1660. He gained recognition for his compositions for the church and his work as an organist in various cities across Germany.

During the 18th century, the name FEHR appeared in several historical records, including the birth and baptismal records of the town of Wertheim in Baden-Württemberg. One entry from 1721 mentions the baptism of Johannes FEHR, son of Johann FEHR and his wife Anna Maria.

Another prominent individual with the surname FEHR was Johann Caspar FEHR, a German painter and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1770. His works, which included portraits and historical scenes, were highly regarded during his lifetime, and some of his engravings can be found in art collections around the world.

In the 19th century, the name FEHR continued to be present in various parts of Germany. One notable figure was Wilhelm FEHR, a German politician and lawyer born in Mannheim in 1820. He served as a member of the Reichstag, the parliament of the German Empire, and was known for his advocacy of liberal causes.

Throughout its history, the surname FEHR has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of Germany and its neighboring regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fehr

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

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

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

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