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

Hertzog, 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 Hertzog surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hertzog in America

Hertzog is the 13466th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hertzog surname appeared 2,261 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 Hertzog.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hertzog 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 Hertzog

The surname HERTZOG is of German origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Herzog," which means "duke" or "leader." The name was likely first adopted by someone who worked in the service of a duke or held a position of leadership in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the HERTZOG surname can be found in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, Germany. Records from the 1500s mention a family by the name of HERTZOG residing in the area. It is believed that this family may have held a position of authority or worked under the local duke at the time.

In the 17th century, the HERTZOG name appeared in various records and manuscripts throughout the German states. For example, a man named Johannes HERTZOG was documented in the town of Erfurt in 1632. He was a respected merchant and landowner in the region.

As the HERTZOG surname spread across Germany and other parts of Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as HERTZOG, HERTZOGH, and HERZOGH. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

One notable figure bearing the HERTZOG surname was Johann Wilhelm HERTZOG (1667-1751), a German composer and organist. He was born in Saxony and is best known for his contributions to the development of the church cantata.

In the 19th century, the HERTZOG name gained prominence in South Africa with the arrival of German immigrants. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was James Barry Munnik HERTZOG (1866-1942), a South African politician and Prime Minister from 1924 to 1939. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Union of South Africa and the promotion of Afrikaner nationalism.

Another notable HERTZOG was Carl Friedrich HERTZOG (1808-1879), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several prominent buildings in Berlin, including the Reichstag and the Old National Gallery.

In the 20th century, the HERTZOG surname continued to be represented by individuals in various fields. For example, Hendrik Verwoerd HERTZOG (1901-1966) was a South African politician and Prime Minister from 1958 to 1966, known for his role in promoting and enforcing the apartheid system.

Overall, the HERTZOG surname has a rich history, tracing its roots back to Germany and evolving over centuries as it spread across Europe and beyond. While its origins may have been tied to positions of authority and leadership, the name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, leaving a lasting impact on the communities and cultures they have been a part of.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hertzog

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

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

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

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