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

Kerker, 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 Kerker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kerker in America

Kerker is the 46647th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kerker surname appeared 456 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 Kerker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kerker 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 Kerker

The surname KERKER is of Dutch origin, with roots tracing back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the coastal regions of the Netherlands, particularly in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. The name KERKER is derived from the Old Dutch word "kerker," which means "prison" or "dungeon."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KERKER surname can be found in the Dutch records of Leiden, where a certain Johannes Kerker was mentioned in 1598. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by that time. It is possible that the name's association with prisons or dungeons might have been linked to an ancestor who worked as a jailer or resided near a prison facility.

During the 17th century, the KERKER surname gained prominence in the Netherlands, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Pieter Kerker (1620-1684), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his genre scenes and portraits. Another notable KERKER was Adriaan Kerker (1655-1719), a Dutch architect and engineer who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities.

As Dutch settlers migrated to other parts of the world, the KERKER surname spread to various regions. In the early 18th century, records show the presence of the KERKER family in the Dutch colony of Suriname, located in South America. One of the earliest documented instances is that of Jan Kerker, who was born in Suriname in 1712.

In the late 19th century, the KERKER surname also found its way to the United States, with several individuals bearing the name arriving as immigrants from the Netherlands. One notable example is William Kerker (1866-1938), an American composer and conductor who was born in Ohio to Dutch parents. He is particularly known for his contributions to the world of musical theater and operettas.

Another prominent figure with the KERKER surname was Dirk Kerker (1882-1953), a Dutch-American businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Kerker Soap Company in New York City. His company played a significant role in the production and distribution of soap products during the early 20th century.

Over the centuries, the KERKER surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Kercker, Kerker, and Kerkers, reflecting regional linguistic differences and transcription practices. Despite these variations, the name's Dutch origins and connection to the concept of prisons or dungeons have remained consistent throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kerker

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

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

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

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