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

Langer, 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 Langer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Langer in America

Langer is the 4724th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Langer surname appeared 7,506 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Langer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Langer 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 Langer

The surname Langer originated in Germany, where it first appeared in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the German word "lang," meaning "long," and was likely originally used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was tall or lanky in stature.

One of the earliest known records of the name Langer dates back to a document from 1295, which mentions a person named Johannes Langer from the city of Cologne. In the 14th century, there are records of a family named Langer living in the town of Tübingen, in southwestern Germany.

The Langer surname can also be traced to various place names in Germany, such as Langendorf (meaning "long village") or Langenau ("long meadow"). These place names may have influenced the development of the surname in certain regions.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Langer name appeared in various historical documents and records, including church registers and tax rolls. One notable bearer of the name was Johann Langer, a German mathematician and astronomer born in 1564, who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion.

In the 18th century, a prominent Langer family established themselves in the city of Nuremberg, where they were involved in the textile trade. Johann Georg Langer (1722-1789) was a successful merchant and philanthropist who founded a hospital in the city.

Another notable Langer was Karl Langer (1819-1887), a German painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and historical scenes. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Germany and Europe.

As the Langer family spread across Europe, the name also found its way to other countries. In the 19th century, for example, there were Langers living in Austria, Switzerland, and even as far as Russia.

Throughout its history, the Langer surname has been associated with various professions and fields, including science, art, business, and more. While it may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has become a well-established and respected family name across Germany and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Langer

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

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

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

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