Find out how popular the last name Ath is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ath.

Ath, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ath surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ath in America

Ath is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ath surname appeared 209 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ath.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ath to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ath

The surname "Ath" is believed to have originated in the Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in the areas that are now modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. The name is thought to derive from the Old German word "ath," which means "oath" or "vow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Ath" can be found in the records of the town of Aachen, Germany, dating back to the 12th century. The name was also mentioned in several medieval manuscripts, including the Annals of Cologne, which documented the lives of influential figures in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the name "Ath" was associated with individuals who held positions of authority or served in roles that required taking oaths, such as judges, magistrates, or members of the clergy. It is possible that the name was initially adopted as a descriptive surname for those who held such positions.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johann Ath (1310-1378) was a prominent scholar and theologian at the University of Cologne. His writings and teachings had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of the time.

Another individual with the surname "Ath" was Gerhard Ath (1455-1521), a Dutch merchant and explorer who was among the first Europeans to establish trade routes with India and Southeast Asia. His voyages and commercial endeavors contributed to the expansion of Dutch influence in the region.

In the 16th century, the name "Ath" was also found in the records of the town of Aachen, where a family by the name of Athenhoven was known for their involvement in the local textile industry. One member of this family, Peter Athenhoven (1528-1598), was a respected master weaver and guild leader.

During the 17th century, the surname "Ath" appeared in various records across Germany and the Netherlands, indicating its widespread presence in these regions. Notably, a German military officer named Hans von Ath (1620-1692) gained recognition for his service in the Thirty Years' War.

Another prominent figure with the surname "Ath" was the Dutch painter Jan Ath (1675-1737), whose landscapes and seascapes were highly regarded during the Golden Age of Dutch art.

While the surname "Ath" has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the historical records and references mentioned above provide insight into the early roots and significance of this surname in its place of origin.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ath

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ath.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ath was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ath has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ath was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ath, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!