Explore the Family Name Heckler

The meaning of Heckler

1. English: occupational name for a heckler or dresser of flax or hemp, from an agent derivative of Middle English hekel ‘to heckle’. In the process of producing fabric (linen) from flax or hemp, the stems were first soaked (retted) and then dragged through metal combs (heckled) to separate the fibers for spinning into thread. 2. South German: occupational name for someone who used a small hoe, from a diminutive of Middle High German hacke hoe + the agent suffix -er. 3. German: variant of Häckler (see Hackler).

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Heckler in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Heckler has seen a rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Heckler was ranked as the 13,048th most popular surname but by 2010, it had climbed to the 12,043rd spot, marking a 7.7% increase in rank. The count of individuals bearing this surname also saw an uptick from 2,153 in 2000 to 2,590 in 2010, signifying a significant 20.3% growth. Accordingly, the proportion of people with the surname Heckler per 100,000 also rose by 10% over the decade.

20002010Change
Rank#13,048#12,0437.7%
Count2,1532,59020.3%
Proportion per 100k0.80.8810%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Heckler

The ethnic identity associated with the surname Heckler also shifted slightly from 2000 to 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. Among those bearing the surname, the percentage identifying as White decreased slightly from 96.38% in 2000 to 95.1% in 2010. Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander and those identifying as having two or more races increased by 10% and 26.72% respectively. The largest change was seen among those identifying as Hispanic, which grew by 34.03%. While there were no individuals identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native with the Heckler surname in 2000, by 2010 these groups made up 0.23% and 0.5% respectively.

20002010Change
White96.38%95.1%-1.33%
Hispanic1.44%1.93%34.03%
Two or More Races1.16%1.47%26.72%
Asian/Pacific Islander0.7%0.77%10%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0.5%0%
Black0%0.23%0%