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

Kershner, 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 Kershner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kershner in America

Kershner is the 7847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kershner surname appeared 4,219 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 Kershner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kershner 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 Kershner

The surname Kershner is of German origin and is believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Kirsche," which means "cherry," and the suffix "-ner," which indicates an occupation or place of origin. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who was associated with cherries, perhaps a grower, seller, or someone who lived near a cherry orchard.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the German state of Hesse in the mid-16th century. In 1564, a record mentions a Hans Kerschner from the town of Marburg. Another early reference is found in the village of Kirchhain, where a Johann Kerschner was documented in 1583.

While the name is predominantly German, it has also been found in various other regions, likely due to migration patterns. For example, in the 18th century, there are records of Kershners living in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

One notable figure with this surname was Johann Kershner (1637-1704), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach. His compositions for organ and harpsichord were widely performed during his lifetime.

Another individual of historical significance was Wilhelm Kershner (1822-1892), a German-American architect who designed several prominent buildings in Philadelphia, including the German Society of Pennsylvania's headquarters and the Southwark Theatre.

In the realm of literature, Anna Kershner (1877-1946) was a German writer and poet known for her works exploring the experiences of women in rural areas. Her collection of short stories, "Dorfgeschichten" (Village Stories), was widely acclaimed.

Across the Atlantic, John Kershner (1842-1914) was an American Civil War veteran who served in the Union Army and later became a prominent businessman in Ohio, founding the Kershner Brick Company.

Lastly, Gottfried Kershner (1860-1938) was a German-American brewer who established the Kershner Brewing Company in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the late 19th century, contributing to the region's thriving beer industry.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Kershner throughout history, highlighting the name's German roots and its presence across various professions and regions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kershner

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

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

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

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