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

Kher, 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 Kher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kher in America

Kher is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kher surname appeared 229 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 Kher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kher 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 Kher

The surname KHER is believed to have originated in India, specifically in the northern regions such as Punjab and Rajasthan. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "khar," which means "salt" or "saline." This suggests that the name may have been associated with salt traders, producers, or those living in areas near salt mines or salt marshes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KHER can be traced back to the 16th century in the region of Multan, which is now part of modern-day Pakistan. During this time, the area was known for its salt mines and salt production, lending credence to the name's association with the salt trade.

In the 18th century, the KHER surname appeared in several historical records from the Mughal Empire, particularly in the regions of Punjab and Haryana. It is possible that some individuals with this surname were involved in the administration or governance of these areas during the Mughal rule.

Notable individuals with the surname KHER throughout history include:

1. Anupam Kher (born 1955), a renowned Indian actor and former chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India. He has received numerous awards, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, for his contributions to Indian cinema.

2. Kirpal Singh Kher (1892-1952), an Indian politician and freedom fighter who actively participated in the Indian independence movement. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and was involved in drafting the Indian Constitution.

3. Harish Kher (born 1948), an Indian politician and former member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. He represented the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and served as a member of various parliamentary committees.

4. Ranjan Kher (1927-1989), an Indian artist and painter known for his abstract and figurative works. He was a recipient of the Padma Shri and is considered an influential figure in modern Indian art.

5. Pooja Kher (born 1981), an Indian actress who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows. She is best known for her roles in movies like "Woh Lamhe" and "Jossh."

While the KHER surname has its origins in India, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diasporas. However, the name's deep-rooted connection to the salt trade and the historical regions of northern India continues to be an integral part of its etymology and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kher

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

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

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

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