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

Harder, 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 Harder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harder in America

Harder is the 3676th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harder surname appeared 9,665 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Harder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harder 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 Harder

The surname "HARDER" is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "hart," which means "hard" or "strong." The name was likely given as a nickname to someone who was considered physically strong or hardy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "HARDER" can be found in the German town of Kaiserslautern, where a certain Hans Harder is mentioned in a municipal record from the year 1432. This document suggests that the name was in use in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name "HARDER" appears in various records across different German-speaking regions. For instance, a Johann Harder is listed as a resident of the town of Görlitz in Saxony in 1562. Another notable figure was Peter Harder, a merchant from Lübeck who is mentioned in a trade document from 1587.

As the name spread throughout the German states, variations in spelling began to emerge. Some of the early spellings included "Harther," "Haerter," and "Härter." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written language during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name "HARDER" was Christoph Harder, a German composer born in 1616 in Saxony. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Baroque music style in Germany.

Another notable figure was Johann Jakob Harder, a Swiss theologian and philosopher born in 1642 in Basel. He was a prominent figure in the Pietist movement and wrote several influential works on Christian ethics and spirituality.

In the 18th century, the name "HARDER" gained recognition through the work of Johann Jakob Harder II, a Swiss mathematician and astronomer born in 1708. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was a member of the Royal Society in London.

As the name spread beyond German-speaking regions, it also found its way to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas through migration. For example, a Johann Harder is listed as one of the early settlers in the Pennsylvania Dutch community in the United States in the late 18th century.

Overall, the surname "HARDER" has a rich history rooted in the German language and culture, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It has been borne by notable figures in various fields, including music, philosophy, and science, and has spread across different regions through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harder

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

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

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

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