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

Kahrs, 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 Kahrs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kahrs in America

Kahrs is the 29279th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kahrs surname appeared 808 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 Kahrs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kahrs 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 Kahrs

The surname Kahrs is believed to have originated in Germany, with records showing its presence as early as the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "kahr," meaning a "small cart" or "wagon." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname, given to individuals who were involved in the transportation or trade of goods using carts or wagons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kahrs can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Kahre," "Karre," and "Karre," reflecting the regional variations and phonetic adaptations common during that period.

In the 15th century, the name Kahrs was also documented in the town records of Nürnberg, a prominent city in Bavaria, Germany. These records provide insights into the lives and occupations of individuals bearing this surname, including references to merchants, artisans, and tradesmen.

The Kahrs name can also be traced to the regions of Saxony and Thuringia in central Germany, where it was particularly prevalent. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include Johann Kahrs (1548-1611), a German theologian and professor at the University of Wittenberg, and Hans Kahrs (1737-1805), a renowned composer and organist from Saxony.

In the 17th century, the name Kahrs appeared in various church records and tax rolls across Germany, indicating its widespread presence and establishment as a recognized surname. One notable example is the baptismal record of Gerhard Kahrs, born in 1621 in the town of Merseburg, Saxony.

As the centuries progressed, some members of the Kahrs family migrated to other regions, contributing to the further dissemination of the name. For instance, in the late 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Netherlands, where they adopted the Dutch spelling "Kaars."

Throughout its history, the surname Kahrs has been associated with various occupations, from skilled craftsmen and merchants to scholars and artists. It has also been carried by individuals who made significant contributions in their respective fields, such as Friedrich Kahrs (1835-1912), a German sculptor and painter known for his works depicting historical and mythological themes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kahrs

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

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

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

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