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

Honaker, 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 Honaker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Honaker in America

Honaker is the 6105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Honaker surname appeared 5,617 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 Honaker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Honaker 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 Honaker

The surname HONAKER is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "Honig," meaning "honey," and the suffix "-er," indicating an occupation or place of origin. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who produced or sold honey, or someone who lived in an area known for beekeeping.

One of the earliest documented references to the HONAKER name can be found in the records of the town of Hönningen, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. In these records, the name appears as "Höniger," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of HONAKER.

As the name spread across Europe, various spellings emerged, including Honaker, Honecker, and Honnecker. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the late 17th century, records show that a family by the name of HONAKER settled in the American colonies, specifically in Virginia. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname in America was Johann HONAKER, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the HONAKER surname. One such person was William HONAKER (1804-1892), a prominent farmer and politician from Virginia, who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in the mid-19th century.

Another notable figure was Robert HONAKER (1876-1957), an American businessman and philanthropist from West Virginia. He founded the HONAKER Corporation, a successful mining and manufacturing company, and was known for his charitable contributions to educational institutions.

In the field of literature, Mary HONAKER (1914-2003) was an American author and poet, best known for her works exploring themes of nature and rural life in the Appalachian region.

Moving into the 20th century, Edward HONAKER (1918-2002) was a decorated World War II veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart for his service in the European Theater.

More recently, James HONAKER (born 1952) is a renowned American architect and urban planner, recognized for his innovative designs and contributions to sustainable urban development.

While the HONAKER surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread across the globe, with families bearing this name found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name's rich history and diverse spellings reflect the movements and cultural influences that have shaped its journey through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Honaker

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

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

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

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