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

Heffner, 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 Heffner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heffner in America

Heffner is the 5029th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heffner surname appeared 6,980 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Heffner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heffner 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 Heffner

The surname Heffner has its roots in Germany, originating in the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Hafner," which translates to "potter" or "maker of earthenware vessels." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals or families who worked in the pottery trade during that era.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Heffner can be traced back to the region of Bavaria, where many potters and ceramic artisans were based. In the town of Nuremberg, known for its rich history in ceramics and craftsmanship, there are records of Heffners dating back to the late 1500s.

One notable mention of the name Heffner can be found in the "Chronik der Stadt Nürnberg" (Chronicle of the City of Nuremberg), a historical document from the 17th century. It references a certain Johann Heffner, a master potter who was highly respected for his skilled craftsmanship and innovative techniques.

As the Heffner family expanded and migrated throughout Europe, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged. Some of these variations include Haeffner, Heffener, and Hefner. These slight alterations in spelling were often influenced by regional dialects and the personal preferences of individual families.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Heffner have achieved notable accomplishments. One such figure was Johann Georg Heffner (1696-1772), a renowned clockmaker from the German town of Augsburg. His intricate and precise timepieces were highly sought after by wealthy patrons across Europe.

Another prominent Heffner was Friedrich Heffner (1825-1891), a German architect who designed several iconic buildings in the city of Munich, including the Alte Pinakothek art museum and the Maximilianeum, a prestigious educational institution.

In the field of literature, the name Heffner is associated with Wilhelm Heffner (1856-1934), a German author and poet whose works were celebrated for their vivid descriptions of rural life and landscapes.

A more contemporary figure is Hugh Heffner (1926-2017), the American publisher and businessman who founded the iconic Playboy magazine. Although not directly related to the German Heffner lineage, his surname shares the same roots and origins.

It is worth noting that the surname Heffner has also been found in other regions, such as Switzerland and Austria, likely due to the migration patterns of potters and artisans throughout Central Europe during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heffner

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

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

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

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