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

Lar, 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 Lar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lar in America

Lar is the 60790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lar surname appeared 331 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 Lar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lar 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 Lar

The surname "LAR" is believed to have originated in Norway during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "lår," meaning "thigh" or "leg." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with particularly strong or muscular legs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "LAR" can be found in the Norwegian census records from the mid-13th century. These records mention a farmer named Thorbjørn Lar, who resided in the village of Trondheim. It is possible that this individual or his ancestors were among the first to adopt the surname.

In the 14th century, the "LAR" surname began to spread across Scandinavia, with records indicating its presence in Denmark and Sweden. During this time, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Laar," "Lahr," and "Laer," reflecting regional differences in pronunciation and orthography.

The "LAR" surname gained further prominence in the 16th century, when Peder Lar (1500-1570), a prominent Norwegian merchant and shipowner, established a successful trading business in Bergen. His descendants continued to carry the name, and some of them became influential figures in the maritime industry and local politics.

Another notable individual bearing the "LAR" surname was Hans Lar (1610-1678), a Danish military officer who served in the Thirty Years' War. He distinguished himself in several battles and was awarded lands and titles for his bravery and loyalty to the Danish crown.

In the 18th century, the "LAR" surname found its way to the United States, likely brought by Norwegian and Danish immigrants seeking new opportunities in the New World. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America is that of Nils Lar (1745-1820), a farmer from Bergen who settled in Pennsylvania.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, individuals with the "LAR" surname continued to make their mark in various fields. Notable examples include Kristian Lar (1820-1895), a Norwegian historian and author who wrote extensively on the Viking era, and Ingrid Lar (1875-1950), a Swedish suffragette and advocate for women's rights.

While the "LAR" surname may not be as common as some other Scandinavian names, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective societies over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lar

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

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

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

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