Explore the Family Name Kehr
The meaning of Kehr
German: 1. from Middle High German kere ‘bend, corner’, hence a topographic name for someone living near a bend in a road or near a field named with this word. The name is common in Tyrol (where it is also a placename from which the surname may have arisen) and in adjoining parts of Switzerland. 2. possibly a short form of a personal name, Kehri or Kehrein, derived from Quirin. Some characteristic forenames: German Manfred, Ewald, Franz, Wilhelm, Wolfgang.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kehr in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Kehr saw a decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 16,562 and dropped to 18,078 by 2010, marking a decline of 9.15% in ranking. The overall count of individuals with this last name also declined during this decade from 1,596 to 1,542, a reduction of about 3.38%. Consequently, the frequency of the Kehr surname per 100,000 people went down by 11.86%, from 0.59 to 0.52.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,562 | #18,078 | -9.15% |
| Count | 1,596 | 1,542 | -3.38% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.59 | 0.52 | -11.86% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kehr
The ethnic identity linked to the surname Kehr as shown in the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some changes between 2000 and 2010. Although the majority of people bearing this surname identified as White (98.12% in 2000 and 96.50% in 2010), there was a slight decrease of 1.65% over the decade. Simultaneously, the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics with the Kehr surname increased substantially. Asian/Pacific Islanders rose from 0.38% in 2000 to 0.91% in 2010, an increase of 139.47%, while those identifying as Hispanic grew from 0.50% to 1.30%, a surge of 160.00%. The proportion of people of two or more ethnic identities also increased by 25.00%, from 0.88% to 1.10%. There were no individuals with the last name Kehr who identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 98.12% | 96.5% | -1.65% |
| Hispanic | 0.5% | 1.3% | 160% |
| Two or More Races | 0.88% | 1.1% | 25% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.38% | 0.91% | 139.47% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |