Explore the Family Name Harsch
The meaning of Harsch
1. North German: nickname for a stern or severe man, from Middle Low German harsch ‘harsh, stern’. 2. German: metonymic occupational name for a soldier, from Middle High German harsch, harst ‘body of troops’. Some characteristic forenames: German Erwin, Fritz, Gottlieb, Hans.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Harsch in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Harsch has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Harsch was ranked 20,382 in popularity with 1,212 individuals bearing this name, or a proportion of 0.45 per 100,000 people. By 2010, the popularity rank had fallen to 22,346, with a count of 1,153 individuals, reflecting a proportional decline to 0.39 per 100,000 people. This equates to a change of -9.64 in rank and -4.87 in count over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,382 | #22,346 | -9.64% |
| Count | 1,212 | 1,153 | -4.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.45 | 0.39 | -13.33% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Harsch
The data from the Decennial U.S. Census also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Harsch. In 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White (93.89%), followed by Black (2.89%), Hispanic (1.40%), Two or more races (0.99%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.41%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.41%). By 2010, there were shifts in these percentages. While the percentage identifying as White had decreased slightly to 90.81%, the percentage identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander had increased significantly to 1.04% and Hispanic to 2.60%. There were also minor increases in those identifying as Black (3.90%), Two or more races (1.21%) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.43%).
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.89% | 90.81% | -3.28% |
| Black | 2.89% | 3.9% | 34.95% |
| Hispanic | 1.4% | 2.6% | 85.71% |
| Two or More Races | 0.99% | 1.21% | 22.22% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.41% | 1.04% | 153.66% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.41% | 0.43% | 4.88% |