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

Kocher, 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 Kocher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kocher in America

Kocher is the 5514th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kocher surname appeared 6,308 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kocher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kocher 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 Kocher

The surname Kocher originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late medieval period. The name is derived from the German word "koch," meaning "cook" or "chef," suggesting that the bearers of this surname were likely involved in culinary professions or trades related to food preparation.

The Kocher surname can be traced back to various regions within present-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, where it was initially found in various forms, such as Kochere, Kocher, and Kocherer. These regional variations in spelling reflect the linguistic diversity and localized dialects prevalent during the Middle Ages.

Historical records indicate that the Kocher name was present in various official documents and registers from the 13th century onwards. For instance, a certain Heinrich Kocher was mentioned in a land registry from the city of Nuremberg, Germany, in 1294. Additionally, a Konrad Kocher was documented as a resident of the Swiss town of Bern in 1321.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the Kocher surname was Johann Kocher, a renowned chef who lived in the city of Augsburg, Germany, during the late 15th century. His culinary skills and reputation as a master cook were celebrated throughout the region, and he is credited with introducing several innovative cooking techniques and recipes.

Another notable figure was Hans Kocher, a Swiss theologian and Protestant reformer who lived from 1497 to 1569. He played a significant role in the Swiss Reformation and was a close associate of Ulrich Zwingli, a prominent leader of the Protestant movement in Switzerland.

In the 17th century, a German artist named Lukas Kocher (1625-1685) gained recognition for his intricate engravings and etchings, many of which depicted religious and allegorical scenes. His works were widely sought after and can be found in various art collections throughout Europe.

During the 18th century, Johann Kocher (1718-1792) was a respected mathematician and astronomer from the city of Nuremberg. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was a member of the prestigious Prussian Academy of Sciences.

The Kocher surname also has a strong presence in the field of music, with one of the most renowned bearers being Konrad Kocher (1786-1872), a Swiss composer and educator. He is best known for composing the melody of the popular Christian hymn "Für Alle Guten Gaben," which is still widely sung in many churches today.

While the Kocher surname has its roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and immigration patterns. However, the historical origins and significance of this name remain deeply rooted in its culinary and professional associations from the Middle Ages and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kocher

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

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

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

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