Lotharp
A variant of the German surname "Lothar", possibly derived from a personal name meaning "famous warrior".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Lotharp. That puts it at #110,286 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lotharp surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#110,286
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
160
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 160 bearers of the surname Lotharp in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 110286th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lotharp, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lotharp
The surname Lotharp has its origins in the medieval Germanic languages, and is believed to have first emerged in the region that is now modern-day Germany during the 11th or 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old High German words "loth" meaning "guide" or "leader" and "harp" meaning "harp" or "lyre," suggesting that it may have originally referred to someone who was a skilled musician or entertainer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lotharp can be found in a medieval manuscript dating back to the late 13th century, which mentions a certain "Johannes Lotharp" who was a minstrel in the court of the Duke of Bavaria. This provides evidence that the name was indeed associated with musicians and performers during that time period.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Lotharp was Hans Lotharp, a renowned lute player and composer who was employed by the Hapsburg court in Vienna. His compositions for the lute were highly regarded and helped to establish the instrument's popularity in aristocratic circles.
During the Renaissance era, the Lotharp name gained further prominence with the birth of Andreas Lotharp in 1520 in the city of Nuremberg. Andreas was a talented lutenist and composer who traveled extensively throughout Europe, performing for various royal courts and publishing several collections of his works.
Another significant individual with the Lotharp surname was Johann Lotharp, born in 1645 in the town of Erfurt. Johann was a highly respected organist and composer of sacred music, and he served as the organist at the St. Mary's Church in Erfurt for over four decades.
In the 18th century, the name Lotharp was associated with the family of Johann Friedrich Lotharp, a respected clockmaker and inventor who lived in the city of Dresden. His innovative designs for timepieces and mechanical devices earned him recognition throughout Germany and beyond.
While the Lotharp surname may have originated as a reference to musicians and entertainers, over the centuries, it has become a surname borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, tradesmen, and scholars. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval era and the Germanic regions, where it likely first emerged as a descriptive name for those skilled in the art of music and performance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lotharp
Among Census respondents with the surname Lotharp, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Lotharp bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lotharp surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.6%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Unknown or suppressed1.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lotharp surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #129,619 | #110,286 | 14.9% |
| Count | 121 | 160 | 32.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lotharp bearers went from 121 to 160 (+32.2% change). The surname moved up 19,333 positions in the national ranking, going from #129,619 to #110,286.
FAQ
Lotharp surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lotharp?
The surname Lotharp holds position #110,286 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lotharp surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lotharp, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.