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

Reimer, 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 Reimer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reimer in America

Reimer is the 3927th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reimer surname appeared 9,055 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Reimer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reimer 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 Reimer

The surname Reimer originated in the Low German region of Germany, likely first appearing around the 13th century. It is derived from the Low German word "remer," which means "a maker of stirrups or spurs." In areas like Saxony and Lower Saxony, the name was used to refer to skilled artisans who crafted these essential pieces of equestrian equipment.

One of the earliest known records of the name Reimer appears in the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical documents from the city of Bremen, dating back to the late 13th century. This early mention suggests that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

In the 14th century, the name Reimer began to spread beyond its original Low German roots, appearing in various forms such as Reymer, Reymers, and Reimers. This diversification of spellings was common in an era when standardized spelling conventions were not yet widespread.

One notable example of the name's early history is found in the records of the city of Lübeck, where a Hinrich Reimer was listed as a respected citizen and member of the town council in the mid-15th century.

As the centuries passed, the name Reimer continued to be found throughout northern Germany, particularly in areas like Mecklenburg, Pomerania, and Schleswig-Holstein. In some cases, the name became associated with specific locations, leading to variations like Reimersdorf or Reimershagen.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Reimer throughout history are:

1. Johann Reimer (1588-1647), a German composer and organist known for his contributions to the development of the North German Organ School.
2. Hans Reimer (1602-1672), a German goldsmith and engraver who worked in the city of Hamburg during the 17th century.
3. Christian Reimer (1753-1818), a German theologian and scholar who served as the rector of the University of Greifswald.
4. Otto Reimer (1823-1896), a German businessman and industrialist who founded the Reimer Steel Works in Oberhausen.
5. Franz Reimer (1851-1925), a German painter and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes in Holstein.

While the surname Reimer has its roots in the Low German regions of northern Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora, carrying with it a rich history that reflects the skilled craftsmanship and cultural heritage of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reimer

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

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

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

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