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

Herz, 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 Herz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Herz in America

Herz is the 17481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Herz surname appeared 1,612 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 Herz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Herz 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 Herz

The surname HERZ is of German origin, originating in the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Herz," which means "heart" in English. This word has its roots in the Old High German word "herza," which also referred to the heart or the center of something.

The name HERZ likely originated as a descriptive nickname or as a reference to a person's emotional or physical characteristics, such as bravery or tenderness. It could have been given to someone who was considered kind-hearted or courageous. Alternatively, it may have referred to someone living near a place called Herz or a location with a similar name.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname HERZ can be found in the Codex Traditionum Werthinensium, a medieval cartulary from the Benedictine abbey of Werthinensis (modern-day Wörth, Germany), dating back to the 12th century. This document includes the name "Rudolfus Herz," suggesting the surname was already in use by that time.

The surname HERZ has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Johann Herz (c. 1400 - c. 1470), a German goldsmith and sculptor who worked in Nuremberg during the 15th century. His works include the famous Nuremberg Schöner Brunnen, a Renaissance fountain adorned with intricate sculptures.

Another prominent figure was Marcus Herz (1747 - 1803), a German Jewish philosopher and physician who was a prominent figure in the Enlightenment movement in Berlin. He was known for his work in promoting Jewish emancipation and for his contributions to the fields of medicine and philosophy.

In the 19th century, Heinrich Herz (1857 - 1894) was a German physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetic waves and the development of early wireless communication technology. His work laid the foundation for the later development of radio and television.

The surname HERZ has also been associated with notable figures in the arts, such as the German composer Hans Herz (1910 - 2000), who composed music for films and theatrical productions, and the Austrian-American novelist and playwright Henriette Herz (1884 - 1966), known for her works exploring themes of exile and identity.

While the surname HERZ has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, when it emerged as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific location in German-speaking regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Herz

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

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

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

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