Explore the Family Name Fischer
The meaning of Fischer
1. German, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a fisherman, from Middle High German visch, German Fisch ‘fish’ + the agent suffix -er. This form of the surname is also established in some other parts of Europe, notably in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Hungary, and the Netherlands. In Poland, Czechia, Croatia, and Slovenia it is (also) established in the Slavicized forms Fiszer (Polish) and Fišer (see Fiser). Compare Fisher. 2. Scottish: variant of Fisher. Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Hans, Otto, Erwin, Gerhard, Helmut, Fritz, Klaus, Horst, Dieter, Franz, Ernst.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fischer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Fischer experienced a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 419 among all surnames, but in 2010 it had fallen to 455, marking a decrease of approximately 8.59%. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 3.23% over the same period, from 70,095 to 72,357. The proportion per 100,000 people also dropped slightly, from 25.98 in 2000 to 24.53 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #419 | #455 | -8.59% |
| Count | 70,095 | 72,357 | 3.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 25.98 | 24.53 | -5.58% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fischer
When looking at the ethnicity of individuals with the surname Fischer, the Decennial U.S. Census data provides some interesting insight. The percentage identifying as White decreased marginally from 95.71% in 2000 to 94.34% in 2010. During the same period, those identifying as Hispanic saw a significant increase of 65.16%, although they still make up a relatively small portion of the total. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native, or two or more races also saw increases, though these were less dramatic.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.71% | 94.34% | -1.43% |
| Hispanic | 1.55% | 2.56% | 65.16% |
| Two or More Races | 1.08% | 1.22% | 12.96% |
| Black | 0.86% | 0.87% | 1.16% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.45% | 0.61% | 35.56% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.35% | 0.4% | 14.29% |
Fischer ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Fischer is French & German, which comprises 37.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (29.9%) and Eastern European (7.9%). Additional ancestries include Ashkenazi Jewish, Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 37.5% |
| British & Irish | 29.9% |
| Eastern European | 7.9% |
| Other | 24.7% |
Possible origins of the surname Fischer
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Fischer have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 68.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 67.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 67.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 67.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 67.20% |
What Fischer haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Fischer is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include E-V13 and R-U152, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Schmidt, Meyer, Miller, Schneider, Snyder, Wagner, Hoffman, Bauer, Becker, Wolf.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Fischer surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Fischer have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Fischer" Surname 37.0%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Fischer" Surname 22.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Fischer" Surname 18.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Fischer" Surname 17.3%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Fischer?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Fischer are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition