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

Lahr, 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 Lahr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lahr in America

Lahr is the 8928th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lahr surname appeared 3,666 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 Lahr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lahr 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 Lahr

The surname Lahr has its origins in Germany, specifically in the region of Baden-Württemberg, where it first emerged in the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "lār," meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived in or near such an area.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Lahr can be found in the Wuerttemberg Ortsnamensbuch, a historical record of place names in the region, dating back to the late 16th century. This reference suggests that the name was associated with the town of Lahr, located in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg.

In the 17th century, the name Lahr appeared in various church records and municipal documents across Baden-Württemberg, indicating the spread and establishment of families bearing this surname. One notable individual from this period was Johannes Lahr (1639-1712), a Lutheran pastor and theologian who served in the town of Schorndorf.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Lahr surname continued to be prominent in the Baden-Württemberg region, with several individuals making notable contributions. Johann Friedrich Lahr (1769-1845) was a renowned architect and urban planner responsible for the design of several buildings and public spaces in the city of Stuttgart.

As the Lahr family members migrated to other parts of Europe and beyond, the surname gained recognition in different contexts. In the field of literature, René Lahr (1878-1935) was a French author and journalist known for his works on art and cultural criticism.

The 20th century saw the rise of notable figures bearing the Lahr surname in various fields. Bert Lahr (1895-1967) was an American actor and comedian best known for his portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in the classic film "The Wizard of Oz." Kurt Lahr (1914-1998) was a renowned American theater critic and journalist, recognized for his insightful reviews and commentary on Broadway productions.

One of the most recent prominent individuals with the Lahr surname is Christine Lahr (born 1959), a German actress and television personality who has appeared in numerous TV shows and films throughout her career.

While the Lahr surname has its roots in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by families and individuals who have contributed to diverse fields and industries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lahr

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

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

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

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