Explore the Family Name Achter
The meaning of Achter
1. North German and Dutch: from achter ‘behind; at the back’, a topographic name for someone living at the back of a main settlement. Compare Achterberg and Achterhof, of which Achter may be a shortened form. 2. German (also Ächter) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): possibly an agent noun derived from achten ‘to reckon or estimate’ (Middle High German ahten ‘to reckon, check; to appraise’) or ächten ‘to outlaw, proscribe’, hence an occupational name for an appraiser or record keeper, or a prosecutor; alternatively, an altered form of Auchter ‘watcher’ (i.e. someone who watched over a flock or herd). 3. German: nickname for a member in a council or association of eight men (acht ‘eight’). 4. German: habitational name for someone from a place called Acht in Rhineland-Palatinate. Some characteristic forenames: German Bernhard, Erna, Guenter, Hans. Jewish Meyer.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Achter in the United States?
The popularity of the surname Achter, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data, has slightly decreased in its ranking between 2000 and 2010, moving from 62,577 to 63,373, a drop of 1.27%. However, the actual count of people carrying this surname increased by 5.35% during the same period, going from 299 to 315 individuals. The proportion per 100k remained unchanged at 0.11.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #62,577 | #63,373 | -1.27% |
| Count | 299 | 315 | 5.35% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Achter
Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the surname Achter, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that a significant majority identify as White. In 2000, 97.66% classified themselves under this category, while in 2010, this dropped slightly to 95.87%. Between the two census years, there was no representation of Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native groups. The percentage of those identifying with two or more races went from 1.67% in 2000 to zero in 2010. Meanwhile, the Hispanic representation saw an increase, albeit small, to 1.59% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.66% | 95.87% | -1.83% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.59% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.67% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |