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

Myhre, 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 Myhre surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Myhre in America

Myhre is the 10298th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Myhre surname appeared 3,129 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 Myhre.

We can also compare 2010 data for Myhre 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 Myhre

The surname Myhre originates from Norway and dates back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have been derived from the Old Norse word "myrr," meaning "bog" or "swamp," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of Norwegian medieval documents, where a person named Thorstein Myhre is mentioned in the year 1418. This suggests that the name was already established in Norway by the 15th century.

During the Viking Age, many Norwegians settled in various parts of the British Isles, including the Shetland Islands, where the name Myhre is thought to have taken root. In fact, the Shetland Islands are home to several place names containing the word "myre," such as Myrhaugh and Myrenning.

In the late 16th century, a man named Nils Myhre was recorded as a farmer in the Hardanger region of Norway. This area is known for its rich agricultural history, and it is possible that Nils Myhre's ancestors were among the early settlers who cultivated the fertile lands near the bogs and swamps.

One notable bearer of the Myhre surname was Hans Myhre, a Norwegian theologian and bishop who lived from 1770 to 1833. He served as the Bishop of Trondheim and played a significant role in the development of the Lutheran church in Norway during the early 19th century.

Another prominent figure with the Myhre surname was Olav Myhre, a Norwegian politician and diplomat who lived from 1896 to 1954. He served as the Norwegian ambassador to the United States from 1938 to 1941, playing a crucial role in maintaining diplomatic relations during the turbulent years of World War II.

In the realm of literature, the name Myhre is associated with the Norwegian author and poet Olav Myhre (1902-1990), who was known for his works that explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition.

While the surname Myhre may have evolved over time, it remains deeply rooted in Norwegian history and culture, carrying with it the echoes of the country's rugged landscapes and the resilience of its people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Myhre

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

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

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

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