Explore the Family Name Anker
The meaning of Anker
1. German and Dutch: from Middle High German and Middle Dutch anker ‘anchor’, applied either as an occupational name for a smith who made ships’ anchors or as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house identified by the sign of an anchor. 2. Swedish and Norwegian (of Swedish origin): soldier’s name meaning ‘anchor’. 3. Danish: from a personal name, of which the first element means ‘eagle’ and the second (probably) ‘violent’. 4. English: from the Old Norman French personal name Anker, Old French Anchier. Its source is the ancient Germanic name Anskari, a variant of Ansgari. Compare Anchor. History: Anker (see 2 above) is the name of a powerful and influential Norwegian family, who came to Christiania (Oslo) from Sweden in 1668.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Anker in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Anker has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. In terms of ranking, it moved up from 19865th place in 2000 to 17764th place in 2010, reflecting an improvement of 10.58%. The actual count of individuals with the Anker surname also increased notably during this period, from 1252 in 2000 to 1577 in 2010, marking a 25.96% growth. Moreover, the proportion of individuals bearing the surname Anker per 100,000 people rose by 15.22%, from 0.46 in 2000 to 0.53 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,865 | #17,764 | 10.58% |
| Count | 1,252 | 1,577 | 25.96% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.46 | 0.53 | 15.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Anker
Turning to ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data suggests shifts in the demographics associated with the Anker surname from 2000 to 2010. The largest change was observed among those of Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity, which increased from 1.04% in 2000 to 4.57% in 2010, marking a substantial 339.42% growth. Those identifying as two or more races also saw a rise, albeit smaller, from 1.44% in 2000 to 1.90% in 2010, equating to a 31.94% increase. Meanwhile, the percentage of individuals with the Anker surname who identified as White decreased by 7.33%, from 95.93% in 2000 to 88.90% in 2010. The Hispanic representation also grew, from 1.04% in 2000 to 3.23% in 2010 - a 210.58% increase. There were no recorded changes for Black, American Indian, and Alaskan Native ethnic identities within this time frame.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.93% | 88.9% | -7.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.04% | 4.57% | 339.42% |
| Hispanic | 1.04% | 3.23% | 210.58% |
| Two or More Races | 1.44% | 1.9% | 31.94% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |