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

Kerch, 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 Kerch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kerch in America

Kerch is the 90113th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kerch surname appeared 205 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 Kerch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kerch 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 Kerch

The surname Kerch originates from Russia, specifically the Crimean Peninsula region. It likely emerged around the 15th century, derived from the city of Kerch located on the eastern side of the Crimean Peninsula. The name Kerch itself comes from the ancient Greek word "Korchis," which referred to the region.

Historical records indicate that the surname Kerch first appeared in documents from the Crimean Khanate, a Turkic-ruled state that controlled the Crimean Peninsula from the 15th to the 18th century. The name was likely associated with individuals or families residing in or originating from the city of Kerch during this period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Kerch was Ivan Kerch, a merchant and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. He was recorded in a land registry document from the Crimean Khanate, indicating his ownership of properties in the vicinity of the city of Kerch.

Another notable figure was Grigory Kerch, a military commander who served in the Crimean Tatar forces during the Russo-Turkish War of 1735-1739. He played a crucial role in defending the city of Kerch against Russian forces during the conflict.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Alexey Kerch (1823-1892) gained recognition as a renowned historian and archaeologist. He conducted extensive research and excavations in the Kerch region, contributing significantly to the understanding of the ancient Greek settlements and cultures that once thrived in the area.

During the Russian Empire era, the Kerch surname was also associated with the noble Kerch family, whose ancestral roots traced back to the Crimean Peninsula. Pyotr Kerch (1789-1867) was a notable member of this family, serving as a military officer and later as a governor in various regions of the Russian Empire.

Another individual of note was Maria Kerch (1865-1932), a pioneering female painter and artist from the Kerch region. Her works captured the landscapes and cultural traditions of the Crimean Peninsula, earning her recognition both within Russia and internationally.

While the surname Kerch is not as commonly found today, it remains an important part of the historical and cultural heritage of the Crimean Peninsula and the broader Russian region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kerch

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

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

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

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