Explore the Family Name Defer
The meaning of Defer
1. French (northern): nickname from de fer ‘of iron’, probably for someone who was inflexible or remarkably tough. 2. Altered form of French Dufour. 3. English (Middlesex): variant of Differ, a Scottish name of uncertain meaning. Some characteristic forenames: French Armand.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Defer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Defer saw a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The ranking slipped from 61,855 to 66,553, marking a 7.6% decline. Similarly, the number of people bearing this last name also dropped by about 2% during this period, from 303 to 297. The proportion per 100,000 people declined by just over 9%, from 0.11 to 0.1.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #61,855 | #66,553 | -7.6% |
| Count | 303 | 297 | -1.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.11 | 0.1 | -9.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Defer
Regarding ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that the majority of people with the surname Defer identify as White, with a slight decrease from 94.06% in 2000 to 93.94% in 2010. The Hispanic population showed a small increase of 1.89%, rising from 2.64% to 2.69%. Notably, there was an emergence of individuals identifying as 'Two or more races' in 2010, accounting for 1.68%, where there had been none in 2000. On the other hand, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native were either non-existent or suppressed for privacy, thus reflecting no change in these categories.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.06% | 93.94% | -0.13% |
| Hispanic | 2.64% | 2.69% | 1.89% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.68% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.98% | 0% | 0% |