Explore the Family Name Mehr
The meaning of Mehr
1. German: habitational name from any of several places so named. 2. Iranian, Pakistani, and Afghanistani: from the personal name Mehr, based on a Persian word meaning ‘sun’, also ‘affection’, which is also the name of the 7th month of the year and the 16th day of every month of the Persian and Zoroastrian calendars. Mehr is also a younger form of the name of Mithra, a Zoroastrian divinity. Bearers of this surname are Muslims, Christians, and Zoroastrians.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mehr in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Mehr rose slightly in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked at 19,313 among all surnames in the U.S. By 2010, it moved up to rank 19,189. This represents a 0.64% increase in ranking over a decade. The number of people with this surname also increased during this period, from 1,298 in 2000 to 1,415 in 2010, marking a growth rate of 9.01%. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained steady at 0.48.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,313 | #19,189 | 0.64% |
| Count | 1,298 | 1,415 | 9.01% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mehr
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that individuals with the Mehr surname are predominantly White, accounting for 91.6% in 2000 and slightly decreasing to 89.75% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander saw a significant rise, increasing by 48.92% from 3.70% in 2000 to 5.51% in 2010. The proportion of those reporting two or more races showed a slight increase, going from 3.54% in 2000 to 3.60% in 2010. Conversely, the proportion of those identifying as Hispanic decreased by 22%, from 1.00% in 2000 to 0.78% in 2010. There were no changes reported for Black, American Indian and Alaskan Native identities.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.6% | 89.75% | -2.02% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.7% | 5.51% | 48.92% |
| Two or More Races | 3.54% | 3.6% | 1.69% |
| Hispanic | 1% | 0.78% | -22% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |