Explore the Family Name Kerker
The meaning of Kerker
1. South German: variant of Kercher (see Karcher) and, in North America, (also) an altered form of this or of one of its variants (compare Karriker). 2. South German: from the dialect word Kerker ‘prison’ (from Latin carcer), hence a metonymic occupational name for a prison warder or possibly a topographic name. 3. North German: topographic name for someone who lived near a church, from Low German kerke ‘church’, or possibly an occupational name from a shortened form of Low German Kerkener ‘sexton’. 4. East German: topographic name for someone living near bushes, from a German agent derivative of Sorbian kerk ‘bush, undergrowth’. 5. Dutch: topographic name for someone living near a dungeon, Dutch kerker, or a metonymic occupational name for a warden or a caretaker of a prison.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kerker in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Kerker has seen a decrease in recent years. In 2000, Kerker ranked at 40,203 in terms of surname popularity. By 2010, it had slipped to 46,647, representing a drop of 16.03%. The number of people carrying the Kerker surname also declined during this period from 513 to 456, an 11.11% decrease. The proportion of Kerkers per 100,000 people in the United States fell by 21.05%, going from 0.19 in 2000 to 0.15 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #40,203 | #46,647 | -16.03% |
| Count | 513 | 456 | -11.11% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.15 | -21.05% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kerker
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides valuable insights into the ethnic identity associated with the Kerker surname. The majority of individuals with the Kerker surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, with a slight decrease of 0.03% over the decade. The percentage identifying as Hispanic showed a growth of 13.24%, increasing from 1.36% to 1.54%. There was a significant increase in those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native, with a rise of 36.08% from 0.97% in 2000 to 1.32% in 2010. Meanwhile, those identifying with two or more races dropped to zero by 2010 after registering at 1.17% in 2000. It should be noted that there were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.3% | 96.27% | -0.03% |
| Hispanic | 1.36% | 1.54% | 13.24% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.97% | 1.32% | 36.08% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.17% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |