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

Karcher, 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 Karcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Karcher in America

Karcher is the 8756th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Karcher surname appeared 3,746 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Karcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Karcher 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 Karcher

The surname Karcher has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "karche," which means "carriage" or "wagon." This suggests that the name likely originated from a person who worked as a carriage maker or a carter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared in the records of the city of Cologne. In 1283, a certain "Johannes Karcher" was mentioned in a document related to a land transaction. This document provides valuable insight into the early history of the name and its presence in the region.

During the 14th century, the name Karcher began to appear in various other parts of Germany, particularly in the southern regions. In 1367, a record from the town of Heidelberg mentions a "Heinrich Karcher" who owned a small farm. This suggests that the name was not limited to those involved in the carriage-making trade but was also adopted by individuals in other professions.

The surname Karcher is also linked to several place names, such as Karcherwörth, a small village located near the city of Bamberg in Bavaria. The name of this village likely derived from the surname itself, indicating that a family bearing the name Karcher may have been among the earliest settlers or landowners in the area.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Karcher. One such example is Johann Karcher (1531-1592), a renowned German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of navigation. Another notable figure is Friedrich Karcher (1809-1888), a German industrialist and the founder of the Kärcher company, which is now a leading manufacturer of cleaning equipment.

Other notable individuals with the surname Karcher include:

1. Heinrich Karcher (1856-1923), a German architect known for his work on numerous churches and public buildings.
2. Gustav Karcher (1870-1945), a German painter and illustrator who specialized in landscapes and portraits.
3. Alfred Karcher (1901-1972), a German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag, the German parliament.
4. Erich Karcher (1918-2001), a German soldier and recipient of the Knight's Cross, one of the highest military decorations awarded by Nazi Germany during World War II.
5. Günter Karcher (born 1940), a German businessman and former CEO of the Kärcher company, known for his contributions to the growth and expansion of the company.

While the surname Karcher has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, its historical significance and connection to the Middle Ages remain firmly rooted in its Germanic origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Karcher

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

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

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

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