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

Raider, 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 Raider surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Raider in America

Raider is the 36788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Raider surname appeared 607 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 Raider.

We can also compare 2010 data for Raider 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 Raider

The surname RAIDER is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "reiter," meaning "rider" or "horseman." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century, a time when knights and mounted soldiers played a significant role in warfare and society.

The earliest recorded instances of the name RAIDER can be traced back to various regions of Germany, particularly in areas where horse-riding and equestrian activities were prevalent. It is possible that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who were skilled riders or horsemen by profession.

In medieval times, the RAIDER surname may have been associated with individuals who served as mounted messengers, couriers, or even knights in the service of noble families or the church. The name could have been bestowed upon those who excelled in horsemanship or participated in tournaments and jousting events.

One of the earliest known bearers of the RAIDER surname was Johann RAIDER, a 14th-century German knight who fought in the Crusades and was mentioned in several chronicles from that era. Another notable figure was Hans RAIDER (1520-1588), a renowned horse breeder and trainer from Saxony, who supplied horses to various noble households.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the RAIDER name appeared in various historical records and documents across German-speaking regions, often associated with individuals involved in equestrian pursuits or military endeavors that required skilled horsemanship.

Andreas RAIDER (1625-1690), a German cavalry officer who served in the Thirty Years' War, was a prominent bearer of the name during this period. Another noteworthy individual was Katherina RAIDER (1670-1738), a respected horse trader and breeder from Bavaria.

As the centuries progressed, the RAIDER surname spread beyond Germany, with bearers of the name migrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. Notable individuals with this surname include Johann RAIDER (1780-1856), a German-American farmer and horse breeder who settled in Pennsylvania, and Wilhelm RAIDER (1845-1923), a German-born cavalry officer who fought in the American Civil War.

Throughout its history, the RAIDER surname has maintained a strong association with horsemanship, equestrian activities, and, in some cases, military service involving mounted troops. Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the word "reiter" was used to describe skilled riders and horsemen.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Raider

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

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

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

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