Semler
A German surname likely derived from the Middle High German "semeler", meaning an assembler or joiner of wooden objects.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,022 Americans carry the last name Semler. That puts it at #16,395 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 169,513 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Semler surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.0K
1 in 169,513
Census rank
#16,395
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,755 bearers of the surname Semler in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16395th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Semler, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Semler
The surname Semler is of German origin and is believed to have originated in the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Semmel," which means a small loaf or roll of bread. The name was likely given to a baker or someone associated with the baking trade.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Semler can be found in the church records of Saxony, Germany, where a Johann Semler was listed as a resident in the village of Schöneck in 1567. Another early reference to the name is found in the baptismal records of St. Peter's Church in Erfurt, where a child named Hans Semler was baptized in 1602.
In the 17th century, the name Semler appeared in various regions of Germany, including Saxony, Thuringia, and Bavaria. One notable bearer of the name was Johann Salomo Semler, a German theologian and biblical scholar who lived from 1725 to 1791. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Enlightenment and is considered a pioneer of biblical criticism.
In the 18th century, the Semler name spread to other parts of Europe as German immigrants settled in new lands. For instance, a Johann Friedrich Semler was born in 1754 in Dürkheim, Germany, and later emigrated to Russia, where he became a respected merchant and landowner.
Another historical figure with the surname Semler was Carl August Semler, a German physician and naturalist who lived from 1767 to 1825. He made significant contributions to the study of botany and zoology and was known for his extensive collection of natural specimens.
In the 19th century, the Semler name found its way to North America as German immigrants sought new opportunities. One such immigrant was Christian Semler, who was born in 1822 in Saxony and later settled in Pennsylvania, where he worked as a farmer and industrialist.
As the Semler surname spread across various regions and cultures, it underwent some variations in spelling, including Semmler, Sembler, and Semlinger. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the German word "Semmel" and its association with the baking trade.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Semler
Among Census respondents with the surname Semler, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Semler bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Semler surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Semler surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,395 | #16,395 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,755 | 1,755 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.59 | 0.59 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Semler bearers went from 1,755 to 1,755 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #16,395 to #16,395.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Semler
FAQ
Semler surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Semler?
The surname Semler holds position #16,395 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,022 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Semler surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Semler, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.