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

Bechthold, 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 Bechthold surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bechthold in America

Bechthold is the 53072nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bechthold surname appeared 390 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 Bechthold.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bechthold 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 Bechthold

The surname Bechthold is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the southwestern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas surrounding modern-day Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

The name Bechthold is derived from the Old German words "beraht" or "beraht-walt," which translate to "bright" or "illustrious ruler." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have held positions of authority or prominence within their communities.

One of the earliest known references to the name Bechthold can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a compilation of historical documents from the region of Saxony, dating back to the 13th century. This record mentions a certain "Bechtoldus de Mulhusen," indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname during that time.

In the 14th century, the name Bechthold appeared in various records and manuscripts across German-speaking regions. For instance, a certain "Johannes Bechthold" was mentioned in the Chronica Monasterii Casinensis, a chronicle of the Monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy, dated around 1350.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Bechthold was Hans Bechthold, a renowned painter and engraver from Nuremberg, who lived from approximately 1455 to 1520. His works, which included religious paintings and woodcuts, were highly acclaimed during the Renaissance period.

Another prominent figure bearing this surname was Johann Michael Bechthold (1605-1677), a German Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Jena. He was known for his contributions to the field of dogmatic theology and his numerous published works.

In the 18th century, Johann Nikolaus Bechthold (1732-1809) gained recognition as a German architect and builder. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings in the city of Würzburg, including the Residenz Palace and the Neue Münze (New Mint).

Moving into the 19th century, Friedrich Bechthold (1830-1905) was a prominent German architect who designed numerous public buildings and churches in various cities across Germany, including Berlin and Cologne.

The surname Bechthold has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Bechtoldsheim, a town in Bavaria, and Bechtoldsweiler, a village in Baden-Württemberg. These place names further reinforce the German heritage and geographic origins of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bechthold

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

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 Bechthold 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 Bechthold 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 Bechthold was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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