Halter
An occupational surname referring to one who makes or sells halters for horses.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,038 Americans carry the last name Halter. That puts it at #7,633 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.47 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 68,034 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Halter surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.0K
1 in 68,034
Census rank
#7,633
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,349 bearers of the surname Halter in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.47 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7633rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Halter, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Halter
The surname HALTER is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "halter," which means "keeper" or "holder." This name likely originated among those who worked as stable hands or grooms, responsible for tending to horses and their equipment.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname HALTER can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. In these regions, the name was initially spelled as "Halter" or variations like "Halter" or "Halther."
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Halter, a farmer from the village of Eberbach in the Rhineland region, mentioned in tax records from the year 1381. Another notable early record is that of Hans Halter, a blacksmith from Nuremberg, whose name appears in guild records from 1423.
The name HALTER can also be found in some historical manuscripts and chronicles from the 15th and 16th centuries. For instance, the Nuremberg Chronicle, a world history published in 1493, mentions a certain Konrad Halter, a merchant from Augsburg.
As the name spread throughout German-speaking regions, it also took on various localized spellings and variations, such as "Halter," "Halther," "Halderen," and "Halderen." Some of these variations were influenced by the local dialects or were adaptations made by scribes and record keepers.
Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the surname HALTER. These include:
1. Johann Halter (1585-1638), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg.
2. Hans Halter (1605-1672), a Swiss mathematician and astronomer from Basel.
3. Maria Halter (1684-1741), a German painter and engraver from Augsburg, renowned for her religious artwork.
4. Johann Christoph Halter (1723-1789), a German architect and builder from Saxony, known for his work on several churches and castles in the region.
5. Wilhelm Halter (1835-1901), a German-American entrepreneur and industrialist who founded the Halter Ironworks in St. Louis, Missouri.
While the surname HALTER is not among the most common surnames today, it has left a lasting mark on history, particularly in German-speaking regions, where it has been associated with various professions and notable individuals over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Halter
Among Census respondents with the surname Halter, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Halter bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Halter surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.8%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Black or African American0.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Halter surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,633 | #7,633 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,349 | 4,349 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.47 | 1.47 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Halter bearers went from 4,349 to 4,349 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #7,633 to #7,633.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Halter
FAQ
Halter surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Halter?
The surname Halter holds position #7,633 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,038 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.47 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Halter surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Halter, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.