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

Her, 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 Her surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Her in America

Her is the 2404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Her surname appeared 15,089 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Her.

We can also compare 2010 data for Her 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 Her

The surname "HER" is of German origin, with records indicating its presence in the region as early as the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "heri," which translates to "army" or "warrior." This suggests that the name may have originally been assigned to individuals who were part of a military force or had a reputation for their bravery in battle.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to the year 1190. This text mentions a nobleman named Henricus Her, who was granted land and privileges by the local ruler.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various town records and tax rolls across Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One notable example is Johannes Her, a merchant from Nuremberg who is mentioned in a trade agreement from 1367.

During the 16th century, the surname gained prominence with the rise of the Protestant Reformation. Martin Her (1490-1551), a Lutheran theologian and close associate of Martin Luther, played a crucial role in the spread of Protestantism in Germany.

Another influential figure bearing the name was Johann Her (1522-1586), a renowned cartographer and mathematician from Saxony. His detailed maps and navigational charts were widely used by explorers and traders during the Age of Discovery.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition in the field of music with the composer and organist Johann Friedrich Her (1701-1765). His compositions for organ and harpsichord were highly regarded during his lifetime and are still studied by musicians today.

Moving into the 19th century, the name gained literary significance with the writer and philosopher Ludwig Her (1825-1895). His philosophical works, particularly his critique of traditional metaphysics, had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of the time.

Throughout history, the surname "HER" has been associated with various professions, from military leaders and merchants to scholars and artists. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, its legacy has spread across Europe and beyond, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who have borne this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Her

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

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

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

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