Explore the Family Name Heather
The meaning of Heather
English: topographic name denoting a ‘dweller on the heath’, an agent derivative of Middle English hethe; compare Heath. The name may also be habitational name from Heather (Leicestershire), from Old English hǣthor ‘heathland’ (hǣth ‘heath, heather’ + the noun suffix -or) or hǣddre ‘heather’. This surname is widespread in southern England, and also established in Ireland.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Heather in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Heather has seen a minor decrease from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Heather was ranked as the 18,883rd most common name in the United States, while by 2010 it had dropped slightly to the 20,239th spot. This represents a decline of 7.18%. The number of individuals with this surname also decreased marginally over the decade, from 1,338 in 2000 to 1,315 in 2010, indicating a change of -1.72%. Its proportion per 100k people fell by 10% during this period, from 0.5 to 0.45.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,883 | #20,239 | -7.18% |
| Count | 1,338 | 1,315 | -1.72% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.5 | 0.45 | -10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Heather
When it comes to ethnic identity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some interesting shifts for those bearing the last name Heather between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of those identifying as White slightly increased from 90.81% to 91.48%. Those who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander increased from 1.87% to 2.13%, and there was also a rise in those identifying as two or more races, from 1.57% to 1.90%. However, the percentage of Heathers identifying as Hispanic saw a small decrease from 2.54% to 2.51%. Data for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities is not available for 2010 due to suppression for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 90.81% | 91.48% | 0.74% |
| Hispanic | 2.54% | 2.51% | -1.18% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.87% | 2.13% | 13.9% |
| Two or More Races | 1.57% | 1.9% | 21.02% |
| Black | 2.47% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.75% | 0% | 0% |