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

Hor, 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 Hor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hor in America

Hor is the 42790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hor surname appeared 506 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Hor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hor 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 Hor

The surname "Hor" has its origins in Norway, dating back to the 10th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "hǫrr," meaning "gray" or "hoary," which was likely used to describe someone with gray hair or an aged appearance.

In the early days, surnames were often descriptive, referring to physical characteristics, occupations, or places of origin. The name "Hor" may have been initially used as a nickname or descriptive term before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Icelandic Sagas, where a character named Hǫrr Þorleifsson is mentioned. This literary reference dates back to the 13th century, indicating the name's presence in Scandinavia during that period.

The name "Hor" can also be found in various Norwegian records and documents from the Middle Ages. For example, a man named Olaf Hor is listed in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents dating from the late 12th century.

As the name spread across Scandinavia, it underwent slight variations in spelling, such as "Hør" and "Hörr." These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the evolution of language over time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Niels Hør (1485-1546), a Danish priest and theologian who played a significant role in the Reformation in Denmark. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and helped translate the New Testament into Danish.

Another prominent figure with the name was Hans Hør (1617-1684), a Norwegian merchant and shipowner from Bergen. He was known for his successful trading ventures and contributed to the city's economic growth during the 17th century.

In Sweden, the name appeared in the form of "Hörr," and one notable individual was Johan Hörr (1721-1796), a Swedish painter renowned for his landscapes and portraits.

The name "Hor" was also present in Iceland, with records showing individuals such as Þórir Hor (born around 1200), who was mentioned in the Sturlunga saga, a collection of Icelandic sagas from the 13th century.

In the Faroe Islands, the name took the form of "Hørr," and one noteworthy person was Jóannes Hørr (1641-1719), a Faroese farmer and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

While the surname "Hor" has its roots in Scandinavia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchanges. However, its early history and origins remain firmly rooted in the Norse culture and language of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hor

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

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

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

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