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

Hafer, 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 Hafer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hafer in America

Hafer is the 8308th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hafer surname appeared 3,989 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 Hafer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hafer 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 Hafer

The surname HAFER is of German origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and parts of Austria. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "hafer," which translates to "oats" or "oat-grower."

In the Middle Ages, surnames often reflected a person's occupation, location, or a distinctive physical characteristic. In this case, HAFER likely referred to individuals who cultivated oats or worked in the oat trade. The name may also have been adopted by those living near oat fields or in areas known for oat production.

The earliest known records of the surname HAFER can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable mention is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, where a certain "Heinricus Hafer" is listed as a witness in a land transaction dated 1274.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Haever," "Haefer," and "Haffner," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. The Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a compilation of records from the city-state of Bremen, mentions a "Nicolaus Haever" in 1348.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname HAFER was Hans Hafer, a respected baker and merchant who lived in the city of Augsburg, Germany, in the late 15th century (c. 1460-1525). His successful bakery business contributed to the prosperity of the Hafer family in the region.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Johann Hafer (1516-1587), a renowned Lutheran theologian and reformer from Saxony. His writings and sermons played a significant role in the spread of Protestant teachings across Germany.

Another notable figure was Katharina Hafer (1590-1647), a respected midwife and herbalist from Nuremberg. Her knowledge of traditional remedies and expertise in childbirth assistance were highly sought after during her time.

The surname HAFER continued to be well-represented in various professions and walks of life throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. One example is Johann Michael Hafer (1679-1744), a skilled clockmaker and inventor from Augsburg, whose innovative timepiece designs were admired across Europe.

In the 19th century, the name was associated with the arts, with the birth of the painter and illustrator Wilhelm Hafer (1812-1879) in Munich. His landscape paintings and illustrations of Bavarian folklore earned him recognition among his contemporaries.

While the surname HAFER has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the Germanic regions, where it once represented a connection to the cultivation of oats and the agricultural traditions of medieval times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hafer

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

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

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

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