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

Myer, 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 Myer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Myer in America

Myer is the 5507th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Myer surname appeared 6,317 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 Myer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Myer 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 Myer

The surname MYER has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "meier," which means a steward or bailiff responsible for managing a lord's estate or manor. The earliest known spelling of the name was "Meier," which later evolved into various forms such as Meyer, Myer, Myre, and Myre.

One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, where a certain "Henricus Meier" is mentioned in a record dated 1187. Another early record from 1241 in the Oettingen Cartulary, a collection of charters and documents from the German region of Oettingen, mentions a "Waltherus Meyger."

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms in different regions of Germany. For instance, the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a collection of charters from Westphalia, mentions a "Rodolphus Meiger" in 1259. Similarly, the Chronica Regia Coloniensis, a chronicle of the city of Cologne, references a "Conradus Mygere" in 1274.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname MYER was Johannes Myer, a German artist and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1437. He is known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which were used to illustrate books in the early days of printing.

Another notable figure was Philipp Meyer (1737-1819), a German botanist and naturalist from Göttingen. He is best known for his work on the classification and nomenclature of plants, and his contributions to the development of modern botanical taxonomy.

In the United Kingdom, the name MYER is believed to have originated from German immigrants who settled in various parts of the country. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Myer, a merchant from London who is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of 1369.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals with the surname MYER emerged. One such person was Sir William Myer (1790-1857), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several Arctic expeditions.

Another prominent figure was Albert James Myer (1828-1880), an American military officer and signal officer who is credited with creating the first practical system of flag communication for the United States Army during the American Civil War.

Overall, the surname MYER has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it was associated with individuals who served as stewards or bailiffs managing estates and manors. Over time, the name spread to various regions and countries, giving rise to several notable individuals who made significant contributions in fields such as art, science, exploration, and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Myer

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

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

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

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