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

Nurge, 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 Nurge surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Nurge in America

Nurge is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nurge surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nurge.

The history of the last name Nurge

The surname Nurge originates from Estonia, a country located in Northern Europe bordered by Finland, Sweden, and Latvia. The name is first recorded in the late medieval period, specifically around the 14th to 15th centuries. It is believed that the name may have originated from an Estonian word or root that has since become archaic or evolved into a different form. In modern Estonian, the name does not have a direct translation, suggesting that it may derive from an ancient term or a word from a regional dialect that has since fallen out of usage.

Early records show the name Nurge appearing in various forms such as Nurgi, Nurg, and Nurgas. These variations reflect the evolving orthography and linguistic changes in old Estonian dialects. Some of the earliest examples of the surname in historical documents can be found in parish records from the Tartu region in the 16th century. The name seems to be concentrated around Southern Estonia during this period, indicating that may be the area of its origin.

One notable individual carrying the surname is Jaan Nurge, an Estonian peasant recorded in a 16th-century land register from the Tartu region. His family seems to have owned a small piece of farmland, making them part of the region's agrarian community. Another early bearers include Madis Nurge, documented in the late 17th century as a village elder in Viljandi County, and his son Andres Nurge, who followed in his father's footsteps.

In the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname is Peeter Nurge, an Estonian folk musician born in 1702 and known for his traditional kannel playing in Lääne County. His performances were recorded in local chronicles, and he was recognized for his contribution to preserving Estonian folk music.

By the 19th century, the name Nurge had spread into other parts of Estonia, as evidenced by records from Tallinn, the capital city. A merchant named Mart Nurge, born in 1833, became well-known for his trading business, which operated between Estonia and Finland. His success allowed him to contribute significantly to the development of local commerce and industry.

In more recent history, the name appears with Juhan Nurge, an Estonian writer and poet who was active during the early 20th century, born in 1891. His works often explored themes of rural life and Estonian national identity, reflecting the cultural and social dynamism of the period.

Throughout history, the surname Nurge demonstrates a fascinating journey through various regions of Estonia, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural tapestry of the country. Its early roots remain somewhat obscure, adding an element of mystery to its historical narrative.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nurge

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nurge 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.

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

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

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