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

Harshbarger, 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 Harshbarger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harshbarger in America

Harshbarger is the 9525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harshbarger surname appeared 3,413 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 Harshbarger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harshbarger 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 Harshbarger

The surname HARSHBARGER is believed to have originated in the Germanic regions of central Europe, likely in the areas of modern-day Germany or Switzerland, during the medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from a combination of the Old German words "harsch" meaning "harsh" or "stern," and "barg" meaning "hill" or "mountain," possibly referring to someone who lived in a rugged, mountainous region or had a stern demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name HARSHBARGER can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the region of Württemberg, Germany, dating back to the late 15th century. The name appears as "Harschbarger" in a land transaction record from the year 1487.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as the Protestant Reformation swept across Europe, many families with the surname HARSHBARGER likely migrated from their ancestral homes in search of religious freedom and economic opportunities. Records show that individuals bearing this name settled in various parts of Germany, Switzerland, and neighboring regions.

In the late 17th century, a man named Johannes HARSHBARGER (1671-1738) was among the early German immigrants to the British colonies in North America, settling in Pennsylvania. He is considered one of the earliest known bearers of the HARSHBARGER name in the New World.

Another notable figure with this surname was Friedrich HARSHBARGER (1802-1876), a prominent German-American writer and philosopher who advocated for democratic ideals and social reform. He authored several influential works on political theory and was an outspoken critic of monarchical rule.

In the 19th century, a branch of the HARSHBARGER family settled in the Appalachian region of the United States, where the name became associated with the rugged mountain culture and traditions of that area. One notable figure from this era was Ezekiel HARSHBARGER (1824-1901), a skilled craftsman and furniture maker whose intricate woodwork pieces are now highly prized by collectors.

During the 20th century, the HARSHBARGER name gained further recognition with individuals like Alma HARSHBARGER (1906-1989), a pioneering educator and advocate for children with special needs, and Samuel HARSHBARGER (1918-2002), a decorated World War II veteran and businessman who played a significant role in the postwar economic recovery of his hometown.

Despite its relatively small population, the HARSHBARGER surname has left an indelible mark on various aspects of history, from early settlement and craftsmanship to intellectual and social movements, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who have carried this name through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harshbarger

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

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

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

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