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

Kalmer, 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 Kalmer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kalmer in America

Kalmer is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kalmer surname appeared 229 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 Kalmer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kalmer 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 Kalmer

The surname Kalmer is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, deriving from the German word "kalm," meaning "calm" or "peaceful." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals known for their serene and composed temperaments.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Kalmer name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the 13th century. Here, a "Johannes Kalmer" is mentioned as a landowner in the region of Saxony.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Hans Kalmer (1320-1387) was a respected merchant and member of the Hanseatic League, a powerful economic alliance of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. His successful trading ventures contributed to the prosperity of the city of Lübeck.

The Kalmer name also appears in historical records from the 15th century, with a reference to a "Konrad Kalmer" (1428-1492) who served as a magistrate in the city of Nuremberg, Bavaria. His contributions to upholding law and order in the region earned him a reputation for fairness and impartiality.

In the 16th century, the Kalmer family gained prominence through the achievements of the renowned theologian and reformer, Johannes Kalmer (1498-1567). He played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation and was a close associate of Martin Luther, contributing to the translation of the Bible into German.

Another notable figure bearing the Kalmer surname was the German painter and engraver, Christoph Kalmer (1570-1634). His intricate woodcuts and engravings depicting religious and mythological scenes were highly regarded during the Renaissance period.

As the surname spread across Germany and neighboring regions, variations in spelling emerged, such as Kalmers, Kalmerz, and Kalmers. Some families with the Kalmer name also adopted compound surnames, such as Kalmerstein or Kalmerfels, which incorporated place names or other descriptive elements.

Throughout its history, the Kalmer surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, scholars, artists, and religious figures. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name continues to be carried forward by families across Germany and beyond, bearing the legacy of its peaceful and composed roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kalmer

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

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

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

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