Explore the Family Name Gerke
The meaning of Gerke
German: from a pet form of the personal name Gerhardt. Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Bernhard, Dieter, Frieda, Fritz, Heinrich, Markus, Reinhardt.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gerke in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gerke has seen an increase in its popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name ranked at 11,864, but it jumped to 11,592 by 2010—an increase of 2.29%. The number of individuals with this surname also grew from 2,416 in 2000 to 2,709 in 2010, a rise of 12.13%. This means that the proportion of people named Gerke per 100,000 increased by 2.22%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,864 | #11,592 | 2.29% |
| Count | 2,416 | 2,709 | 12.13% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.9 | 0.92 | 2.22% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gerke
Turning to the ethnic identity of those bearing the Gerke surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some interesting shifts from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the largest group identifying as Gerke were White (96.27%), followed by those of two or more races (1.41%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.62%). However, by 2010, there was a notable increase in the Hispanic and Black populations bearing the Gerke surname, growing by 180.22% and 381.82%, respectively. Conversely, the percentage of those of two or more races and American Indian and Alaskan Native origins decreased, while the share of White individuals dropped slightly to 93.58%. Despite these changes, the majority of those with the Gerke surname still identified as White in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.27% | 93.58% | -2.79% |
| Hispanic | 0.91% | 2.55% | 180.22% |
| Black | 0.33% | 1.59% | 381.82% |
| Two or More Races | 1.41% | 1.18% | -16.31% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.62% | 0.7% | 12.9% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.46% | 0.41% | -10.87% |