Jerman
A surname likely derived from a place name related to Germany or having German origins.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,405 Americans carry the last name Jerman. That puts it at #21,750 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.41 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 243,953 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Jerman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.4K
1 in 243,953
Census rank
#21,750
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,196 bearers of the surname Jerman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.41 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 21750th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Jerman, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.3%. The next largest groups are Black (14.7%) and Hispanic (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Jerman
The surname JERMAN has its origins in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "german," meaning "a person from Germany." The name was initially used as an ethnic descriptor to distinguish individuals of German descent from those of other nationalities.
The name JERMAN first appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Germanus." This early spelling variation reflects the influence of Latin on the name's evolution.
In the 13th century, the name JERMAN began to be used as a surname, particularly in the regions of present-day Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. Several notable historical figures bore this surname, including Johann JERMAN (1485-1538), a German theologian and Reformer, and Hans JERMAN (1560-1623), a renowned German painter and engraver.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, as migration patterns increased, the surname JERMAN spread across Europe, with variations in spelling emerging in different regions. In England, for instance, the name was often recorded as "Jermyn" or "Jermain," reflecting the influence of the local dialect and pronunciation.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JERMAN in England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, where a certain Thomas JERMAN was baptized in 1612. Another notable figure was Henry JERMYN (1636-1708), a prominent English statesman and courtier during the reign of King Charles II.
As the JERMAN name continued to disperse throughout Europe and beyond, it became associated with various place names and locations. For example, in France, the name JERMAN was linked to the village of Germain-en-Laye, while in the Netherlands, it was connected to the town of Germaan.
Other notable individuals with the surname JERMAN include Johann JERMAN (1735-1810), a German philosopher and mathematician, and Friedrich JERMAN (1816-1891), a German industrialist and the founder of the Jerman Manufacturing Company.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Jerman
Among Census respondents with the surname Jerman, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.3%. The next largest groups are Black (14.7%) and Hispanic (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Jerman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Jerman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White77.3%
- Black or African American14.7%
- Hispanic or Latino4.0%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Jerman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,446 | #21,750 | -6.4% |
| Count | 1,207 | 1,196 | -0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.45 | 0.41 | -8.9% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Jerman bearers went from 1,207 to 1,196 (-0.9% change). The surname moved down 1,304 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,446 to #21,750.
FAQ
Jerman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Jerman?
The surname Jerman holds position #21,750 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,405 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.41 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Jerman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Jerman, the largest self-reported group is White at 77.3%. The next largest groups are Black (14.7%) and Hispanic (4.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.