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

Ur, 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 Ur surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ur in America

Ur is the 82044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ur surname appeared 230 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 Ur.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ur 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 Ur

The surname "Ur" is believed to have its origins in the ancient city of Ur, located in modern-day Iraq. This name is rooted in the Sumerian language and is thought to have meant "the city" or "the enclosure." The city of Ur was one of the earliest urban settlements in Mesopotamia, dating back to around 3800 BCE.

The name Ur is closely associated with the biblical figure Abraham, who is said to have been born in Ur of the Chaldees. This city is mentioned in the Book of Genesis and was a significant center of civilization during the Sumerian and Babylonian eras. The name Ur is believed to have been adopted as a surname by individuals who either lived in or migrated from the city of Ur.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ur can be found in the Sumerian King List, an ancient manuscript that lists the names of rulers who governed the city-states of Sumer. This document dates back to around 2000 BCE and includes the names of several kings who ruled over Ur.

In the Middle Ages, the name Ur appeared in various European records and documents. For example, a nobleman named Rudolph de Ur is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record commissioned by William the Conqueror to survey the lands and population of England.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Ur. One such person was Sir John Ur (1540-1612), an English merchant and explorer who played a significant role in the establishment of the East India Company. Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Ur (1722-1789), a German mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ur include:

1. Hans Ur (1674-1741), a Swiss painter known for his portraits and landscapes.
2. Maria Ur (1880-1953), a Hungarian opera singer who performed in major opera houses across Europe.
3. Ernst Ur (1912-1995), an Austrian-born American physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics.
4. Ingrid Ur (1926-2004), a Swedish author and playwright known for her works exploring themes of identity and social issues.
5. Reinhold Ur (1936-2021), a German sculptor and artist whose works were featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide.

It is important to note that while the surname Ur has its roots in ancient Mesopotamia, it has since been adopted by individuals from various cultural and geographical backgrounds, leading to a diverse range of historical references and notable figures associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ur

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

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

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

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