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

Ohr, 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 Ohr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ohr in America

Ohr is the 55121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ohr surname appeared 373 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 Ohr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ohr 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 Ohr

The surname Ohr has its origins in the German language, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have emerged in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and Austria, where it was initially used to denote a person's occupation or a distinctive physical characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ohr can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval manuscripts and charters from the 13th century. This document mentions a certain Konrad von Ohr, who was a landowner in the region of Franconia, near the city of Nuremberg.

The name Ohr is derived from the Old High German word "ora," which translates to "ear." It is possible that the surname was initially given to individuals who possessed prominent or distinctive ears, or perhaps to those who worked as ear doctors or specialists in treating ear-related ailments.

In the 14th century, the name Ohr appeared in various municipal records and tax rolls across southern Germany. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include Hans Ohr (1320-1385), a merchant from Augsburg, and Margarete Ohr (1355-1412), a prominent landowner in the town of Regensburg.

As the centuries progressed, the Ohr family spread across different regions of Germany and Austria. One of the most renowned figures with this surname was Johann Baptist Ohr (1778-1847), a celebrated composer and violinist from Vienna, who was renowned for his contributions to the classical music tradition.

Another notable individual was Friedrich Ohr (1809-1882), a German philosopher and writer who authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy. His writings were widely studied and discussed in academic circles during the 19th century.

In the realm of literature, the name Ohr is associated with the German poet and novelist, Else Ohr (1871-1938), whose works explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Her poignant poems and novels earned her widespread acclaim and recognition across German-speaking regions.

While the name Ohr may have originated in southern Germany, it eventually spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, carried by individuals and families who migrated or established new roots in different regions. However, its core origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Germanic cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ohr

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

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

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

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