2000
#13,400
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,084
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.77
Rare Last name
Imler
Habitational surname derived from a place called Immler in Bavaria, Germany, likely referring to someone from that location.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,265 Americans carry the last name Imler. That puts it at #14,514 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 151,326 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Imler surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
2.3K
1 in 151,326
Census rank
#14,514
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,975 bearers of the surname Imler in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14514th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Imler, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Imler
The surname Imler is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the late Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around the Black Forest and the Swabian Alps.
The name Imler is derived from the Old High German word 'imel,' meaning 'diligent' or 'industrious.' This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who were known for their hard work and dedication.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Imler can be found in the Codex Laureshamensis, a medieval manuscript dating back to the 9th century. This document mentions an individual named 'Imelher,' which is believed to be an early variation of the surname.
In the 13th century, the name Imler appeared in various historical records from the regions of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. During this period, the name was often associated with families involved in agricultural or trade professions.
One notable figure bearing the surname Imler was Hans Imler, a wealthy merchant and landowner from the town of Esslingen, near Stuttgart. Born in 1463, Hans Imler played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs during the late 15th century.
Another prominent individual with the surname Imler was Katharina Imler, a renowned herbalist and midwife who lived in the Black Forest region during the 16th century. Her expertise in natural remedies and her contributions to the field of midwifery were widely recognized in her time.
In the 17th century, the Imler family expanded their presence across southern Germany, with branches settling in regions such as Swabia, Franconia, and the Palatinate. The name Imler was also found in historical records from nearby areas in Switzerland and Austria.
One of the earliest known instances of the name Imler in the Americas was Johann Imler, who emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century. He settled in the region known as the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where many German immigrants established thriving communities.
Another notable figure was Wilhelm Imler, a German-born artist and sculptor who lived in the 19th century. Born in 1824 in Baden-Württemberg, Wilhelm Imler gained recognition for his intricate woodcarvings and sculptures, many of which depicted scenes from everyday life in rural Germany.
Throughout its history, the surname Imler has been associated with various professions, from farmers and artisans to merchants and intellectuals. While the name may have evolved in spelling over time, its German roots and the meaning of diligence and hard work have remained an integral part of its legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Imler
Among Census respondents with the surname Imler, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Imler bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Imler surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1% · 1,819
- Two or more races4.2% · 83
- Hispanic or Latino1.6% · 31
- Black or African American0.8% · 16
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 14
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 12
Timeline
Historical Census data for Imler
Imler appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#14,316
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,090
+6 bearers (+0.3%)
Per 100,000 0.71
Rank movement Down 916 places
2020
#14,514
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,975
-115 bearers (-5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.66
Rank movement Down 198 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,400 | 2,084 | 0.77 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #14,316 | 2,090 | 0.71 | +6 bearers (+0.3%) | Down 916 places |
| 2020 | #14,514 | 1,975 | 0.66 | -115 bearers (-5.5%) | Down 198 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Imler surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,316 | #14,514 | -1.4% |
| Count | 2,090 | 1,975 | -5.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.71 | 0.66 | -6.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Imler bearers went from 2,090 to 1,975 (-5.5% change). The surname moved down 198 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,316 to #14,514.
FAQ
Imler surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Imler?
Name Census estimates that about 2,265 living Americans carry the surname Imler. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 151,326 residents.
How common is Imler?
Imler ranks #14,514 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.66 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,975 people with the surname Imler. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,265), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.66 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.66 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Imler.
Has Imler become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Imler went from 2,090 recorded bearers to 1,975. That is a decrease of 115 (-5.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #14,316 to #14,514.
What does the Census say about the background of Imler?
Among Census respondents with the surname Imler, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.2%) and Hispanic (1.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Imler in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.1% (1,819 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Imler appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.1%), Two or More Races (4.2%), Hispanic (1.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Imler (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Imler mean?
Habitational surname derived from a place called Immler in Bavaria, Germany, likely referring to someone from that location. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Imler (0.66 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Imler?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Imler on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.