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

Kermes, 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 Kermes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kermes in America

Kermes is the 105079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kermes surname appeared 170 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 Kermes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kermes 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 Kermes

The surname "KERMES" is believed to have originated in France, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "kermes," which refers to a type of red dye obtained from the kermes insect, a scale insect found in the Mediterranean region.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname can be found in the Cartulaire de Redon, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the Abbey of Redon in Brittany, France. In this manuscript, a person named Guillelmus Kermes is mentioned in the year 1180.

During the Middle Ages, the surname "KERMES" was particularly prevalent in the regions of Languedoc and Provence, where the kermes insect was cultivated for its valuable dye. The production of kermes dye was an important industry in these areas, and it is possible that the name was initially associated with individuals involved in this trade.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Jean Kermes (c. 1220-1290) was a merchant and dyer from the city of Montpellier, known for his expertise in the production of kermes dye. His reputation and success in this field may have contributed to the recognition of the surname.

Another prominent individual with the surname "KERMES" was Guillaume Kermes (c. 1380-1450), a French cleric and diplomat who served as the Bishop of Tréguier in Brittany during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in the records of the Châtelet de Paris, the principal civil and criminal court of Paris at the time. In 1562, a certain Nicolas Kermes is mentioned as a resident of the city.

As the centuries progressed, the surname spread beyond France and can be found in various regions and countries. For example, in the 18th century, a German composer named Johann Kermes (1750-1823) gained recognition for his contributions to music.

It is worth noting that the surname "KERMES" may also have evolved from other similar-sounding place names or occupations, such as the French word "chermès," which also refers to the kermes insect.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kermes

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

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

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

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