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

Bechtol, 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 Bechtol surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bechtol in America

Bechtol is the 21583rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bechtol surname appeared 1,209 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 Bechtol.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bechtol 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 Bechtol

The surname Bechtol has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany and Switzerland. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.

The name Bechtol is thought to be derived from the Old German word "beche," which means "brook" or "stream," and the suffix "-ol," which is a diminutive form often used to indicate a smaller or lesser version of something. Together, Bechtol may have originally referred to a small brook or stream, potentially indicating that the earliest bearers of this surname lived near or were associated with such a geographic feature.

Historical records from the region provide some of the earliest documented instances of the Bechtol surname. For example, in the 14th century, a man named Hans Bechtol was listed in the municipal records of the town of Freiburg, located in what is now southwestern Germany. Additionally, the Bechtol name appears in various church registers and tax records from the 15th and 16th centuries in various towns and villages throughout the German-speaking lands.

One notable individual who bore the Bechtol surname was Johann Bechtol (1525-1588), a Lutheran theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Tübingen in Germany during the late 16th century. His works on theology and ethics were widely read and influential during his time.

Another individual of historical significance was Anna Bechtol (1650-1718), a German-born midwife and herbalist who practiced in the town of Strasbourg, which is now part of modern-day France. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional birthing practices was highly regarded in her community.

In the 18th century, a man named Jakob Bechtol (1712-1792) gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and watchmaker in the city of Augsburg, Germany. His intricate timepieces were prized for their craftsmanship and accuracy.

The Bechtol surname also found its way to other parts of Europe, including Switzerland, where records show a family named Bechtol residing in the canton of Bern in the late 16th century. One member of this family, Hans Bechtol (1575-1642), was a respected farmer and landowner in the region.

As the centuries passed, the Bechtol surname continued to be carried by individuals across various professions and walks of life, including artisans, merchants, and scholars, contributing to the rich tapestry of history and culture in the German-speaking regions of Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bechtol

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bechtol, 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!