2000
#1,031
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 31,044
First available Census row
Per 100,000 11.51
Uncommon Last name
Springer
An occupational surname referring to a lively, energetic person or a travelling acrobat or tumbler.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 34,605 Americans carry the last name Springer. That puts it at #1,141 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 10.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 9,905 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Springer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Springer with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
35K
1 in 9,905
Census rank
#1,141
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
10.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
30K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 30,177 bearers of the surname Springer in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 10.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1141st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Springer, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.1%. The next largest groups are Black (10.5%) and Two or More Races (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Springer
The surname Springer has its origins in the German language, deriving from the word "springer," which translates to "jumper" or "dancer." It is believed to have emerged as an occupational surname during the Middle Ages, likely referring to individuals who performed as leapers, tumblers, or dancers.
The earliest recorded instances of the Springer surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. Historical records from this period often referred to individuals by their occupation or distinguishing characteristic, which could explain the adoption of the Springer surname.
One notable mention of the Springer name can be found in the Rottweil Annals, a chronicle written in the late 13th century, which documents the activities of a town council member named Cunrat Springer in the year 1286.
In the 14th century, the surname Springer began to appear in various German cities and towns, including Nuremberg, where a certain Heinrich Springer was recorded as a resident in 1349. This suggests that the name had spread across different regions of Germany by that time.
During the 16th century, the Springer surname gained prominence with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such individual was Johannes Springer (1520-1584), a German theologian and Reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
Another prominent figure was Bartholomäus Springer (1530-1591), a German historian and rector of the University of Wittenberg, known for his writings on the history of Saxony.
In the 17th century, the surname Springer found its way to the Netherlands, where a family of that name settled in the city of Amsterdam. One of the earliest recorded members of this family was Pieter Springer (1600-1670), a successful merchant and alderman.
The 18th century saw the emergence of Johann Springer (1737-1817), a German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of mechanics and is considered one of the pioneers of modern engineering.
As the Springer surname spread across Europe, it also gained prominence in other regions. One notable individual was William Springer (1819-1891), an American politician and lawyer who served as a judge in the Illinois Supreme Court and played a key role in the state's legal system.
Throughout its history, the Springer surname has been associated with various occupations, professions, and achievements, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name. While its origins can be traced back to the German language and the Middle Ages, the name has since transcended borders and cultures, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Springer
Among Census respondents with the surname Springer, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.1%. The next largest groups are Black (10.5%) and Two or More Races (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Springer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Springer surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.1% · 24,186
- Black or African American10.5% · 3,167
- Two or more races4.0% · 1,207
- Hispanic or Latino3.8% · 1,133
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 269
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 215
Timeline
Historical Census data for Springer
Springer appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#1,107
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 31,643
+599 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 10.73
Rank movement Down 76 places
2020
#1,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 30,177
-1,466 bearers (-4.6%)
Per 100,000 10.10
Rank movement Down 34 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #1,031 | 31,044 | 11.51 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #1,107 | 31,643 | 10.73 | +599 bearers (+1.9%) | Down 76 places |
| 2020 | #1,141 | 30,177 | 10.10 | -1,466 bearers (-4.6%) | Down 34 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Springer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,107 | #1,141 | -3.1% |
| Count | 31,643 | 30,177 | -4.6% |
| Per 100K | 10.73 | 10.10 | -5.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Springer bearers went from 31,643 to 30,177 (-4.6% change). The surname moved down 34 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,107 to #1,141.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Springer
FAQ
Springer surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Springer?
Name Census estimates that about 34,605 living Americans carry the surname Springer. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 9,905 residents.
How common is Springer?
Springer ranks #1,141 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 10.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 10 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 30,177 people with the surname Springer. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (34,605), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 10.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 10.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 10 of them to have the surname Springer.
Has Springer become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Springer went from 31,643 recorded bearers to 30,177. That is a decrease of 1,466 (-4.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #1,107 to #1,141.
What does the Census say about the background of Springer?
Among Census respondents with the surname Springer, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.1%. The next largest groups are Black (10.5%) and Two or More Races (4.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Springer in the 2020 Census, accounting for 80.1% (24,186 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Springer appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (80.1%), Black (10.5%), Two or More Races (4.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Springer (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Springer mean?
An occupational surname referring to a lively, energetic person or a travelling acrobat or tumbler. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Springer (10.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Springer?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.