Explore the Family Name Steer
The meaning of Steer
1. English and German: from Middle English ster(e), Middle Low German stēr ‘young bull or ox, steer, bullock’, hence a nickname for a truculent person, or perhaps a heavily built person, or a metonymic occupational name for someone who was responsible for tending cattle. 2. English: nickname from Middle English stere ‘strong, stout’ (Old English stere). 3. English: occupational name from Middle English stere ‘steersman, helmsman’ (Old English steora). Compare Stearman. 4. South German: from Middle High German ster ‘ram’, probably a nickname for a hard-nosed, stubborn person.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Steer in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Steer's popularity saw a minor decrease of 4.23%, dropping its rank from 20,945 in 2000 to 21,830 in 2010. However, the count of individuals with the Steer surname slightly increased by 1.79% from 1,170 to 1,191 during the same period. The proportion per 100,000 of the population also witnessed a decline of almost 7%, moving from 0.43 in 2000 to 0.4 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,945 | #21,830 | -4.23% |
| Count | 1,170 | 1,191 | 1.79% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.43 | 0.4 | -6.98% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Steer
As for the ethnic identity associated with the surname Steer, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts over the decade. In 2000, a majority of those with the surname identified as White (82.82%), followed by Black (9.15%) and Hispanic (5.90%). By 2010, the percentage of individuals identifying as White had dropped to 73.05%, while the percentages identifying as Black and Hispanic rose significantly to 15.11% and 8.90%, respectively. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native were negligible in 2000 but each rose to 0.67% in 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of people identifying as having two or more races decreased slightly, from 1.79% in 2000 to 1.60% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 82.82% | 73.05% | -11.8% |
| Black | 9.15% | 15.11% | 65.14% |
| Hispanic | 5.9% | 8.9% | 50.85% |
| Two or More Races | 1.79% | 1.6% | -10.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.67% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.67% | 0% |