Explore the Family Name Hamar
The meaning of Hamar
1. Hungarian: nickname from the adjective hamar ‘fast’. 2. Norwegian: habitational name from any of several farmsteads named Hamar, from Old Norse hamarr ‘hammer’, denoting a hammer-shaped cliff or crag. 3. English (Shropshire and Lancashire): variant of Hamer.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Hamar in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Hamar underwent a shift between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Hamar ranked 37,094 in terms of surname prevalence in the United States, slipping to 41,501 by 2010 — a decrease of nearly 12%. The total count of individuals with this surname also saw a decline during this period, falling from 566 in 2000 to 524 in 2010 — a drop of about 7.42%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Hamar per 100k people dwindled by roughly 14.29%, settling at 0.18 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,094 | #41,501 | -11.88% |
| Count | 566 | 524 | -7.42% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.21 | 0.18 | -14.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Hamar
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Hamar also evolved between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The most significant change was seen within the Asian/Pacific Islander category, which rose from 0.88% to 2.29% — an increase of over 160%. Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals identifying as two or more races dropped dramatically by nearly 59%, coming down to 2.10% in 2010. Despite a slight dip of 0.70%, the majority of Hamars still identified as White, making up 91.41% of the group in 2010. Hispanic representation also grew from 0.88% to 2.10%, while the Black population made its first appearance at 1.15%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category also recorded a debut at 0.95% in 2010, having previously been suppressed for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.05% | 91.41% | -0.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.88% | 2.29% | 160.23% |
| Two or More Races | 5.12% | 2.1% | -58.98% |
| Hispanic | 0.88% | 2.1% | 138.64% |
| Black | 0% | 1.15% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.95% | 0% |