Herger
A surname derived from a Germanic personal name combining the elements "heri" (army) and "ger" (spear).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Herger. That puts it at #98,099 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Herger 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
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#98,099
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
185
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 185 bearers of the surname Herger in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 98099th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Herger, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Herger
The surname Herger originated from Germany in the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German words "heri" meaning army and "ger" meaning spear, indicating the name may have been an occupational name for a soldier or warrior. The name was most prevalent in Bavaria and other southern regions of Germany during the 12th and 13th centuries.
One of the earliest documented references to the Herger name appears in a manuscript from the Benedictine monastery of St. Emmeram in Regensburg, Bavaria, dated around 1215. This record mentions a knight named Rudiger Herger who participated in a local tournament. The name is also found in various charters and land records from the same era in towns like Augsburg and Nuremberg.
In the 14th century, a variant spelling "Hergar" emerged in parts of Swabia and Franconia. This may have been influenced by the regional dialect or a derivation from the town name Hergar, now known as Herrgarten near Memmingen. A notable bearer of this spelling was Konrad Hergar, a respected baker and guild member in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, born around 1375.
During the Renaissance era, the Herger name spread further across German-speaking lands. In 1492, a scholar named Johannes Herger from Saxony published a Latin treatise on astronomy and astrology. Another individual of note was Hans Herger, a master woodcarver from Bern, Switzerland, active in the early 16th century.
As the centuries progressed, the name continued to be present in various German states and territories. In the 1600s, a family of Hergers resided in the town of Oberursel near Frankfurt, where they were involved in the local wine trade. Later, in the 1800s, a composer named Wilhelm Herger was born in Dresden and gained recognition for his operatic works.
While not as widespread as some other German surnames, the Herger name has maintained a presence throughout the country's history, often associated with trades, crafts, and scholarly pursuits. Despite regional variations in spelling, the name's origins can be traced back to the early medieval period and the concept of a warrior or soldier.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Herger
Among Census respondents with the surname Herger, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Herger 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 Herger surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.4%
- Hispanic or Latino8.1%
- Unknown or suppressed3.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Herger 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93,427 | #98,099 | -5.0% |
| Count | 182 | 185 | 1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.06 | -14.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Herger bearers went from 182 to 185 (+1.6% change). The surname moved down 4,672 positions in the national ranking, going from #93,427 to #98,099.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Herger
FAQ
Herger surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Herger?
The surname Herger holds position #98,099 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Herger surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Herger, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (8.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.2%). 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.