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

Forrer, 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 Forrer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Forrer in America

Forrer is the 32438th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Forrer surname appeared 709 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 Forrer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Forrer 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 Forrer

The surname Forrer originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, specifically in the areas that now encompass parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century.

The name Forrer is believed to have derived from the German word "Förster," which translates to "forester" or "forest ranger." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to individuals whose primary livelihood was related to the management and oversight of forests.

Historical records indicate that the surname Forrer appeared in various medieval documents, including legal contracts, property deeds, and parish registers. One notable mention of the name can be found in the Urkundenbuch der Stadt Strassburg, a collection of documents related to the city of Strasbourg, dating back to the 14th century.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Forrer was Johannes Forrer, a forester who lived in the German region of Alsace in the late 13th century. Another prominent figure was Hans Forrer, a wealthy merchant and landowner from the Swiss city of Basel, who lived during the 15th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Forrer. These include:

1. Johann Rudolf Forrer (1570-1633), a Swiss theologian and author from Zurich.
2. Robert Forrer (1846-1923), a Swiss archaeologist and numismatist, known for his contributions to the study of ancient coins and artifacts.
3. Ludwig Forrer (1892-1966), a Swiss architect and urban planner, famous for his work in designing modern cities and housing projects.
4. Arnold Forrer (1901-1978), a renowned Swiss artist and graphic designer, known for his innovative poster designs.
5. Ernst Forrer (1902-1988), a German-born Swiss professor and author, who specialized in the study of ancient Near Eastern civilizations.

The surname Forrer has also been associated with various geographical locations, such as the village of Forrer in the Bavarian region of Germany, and the Forrer Valley in the Swiss Alps. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time, including Förrer, Foerrer, and Fohrer.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Forrer

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

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

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

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