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

Bertsch, 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 Bertsch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bertsch in America

Bertsch is the 8594th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bertsch surname appeared 3,832 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bertsch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bertsch 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 Bertsch

The surname Bertsch originated in the Alsace region of France, which borders Germany and Switzerland. It dates back to the 13th century, derived from the old German word "beraht" meaning "bright" or "shining." The name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone with a bright or radiant personality.

In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Bereht" or "Beret." Over time, it evolved into various spellings such as Bertsch, Bertschi, and Bertschy. These variations emerged due to regional dialects and the influence of other languages in the Alsace region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Bertsch can be found in the Liber Vitae, a medieval manuscript from the 14th century. This document lists the names of individuals who made donations or had connections to the monastery of Remiremont in the Vosges region of Alsace.

In the 16th century, the Bertsch name appeared in the records of the city of Strasbourg, which was a prominent trade center at the time. Johannes Bertsch, a merchant born in 1527, was a notable figure who contributed to the city's economic prosperity.

As the name spread beyond the Alsace region, it gained recognition in other parts of Europe. In the 17th century, Johann Bertsch (1601-1678) was a renowned German composer and organist who served at the court of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach.

Another notable bearer of the Bertsch name was Johann Georg Bertsch (1719-1799), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Tübingen. His works on ethics and moral philosophy were influential during the Enlightenment period.

In the 19th century, the name Bertsch gained prominence in the United States as a result of immigration from Europe. One of the earliest recorded instances is Jacob Bertsch (1805-1884), who emigrated from Alsace and settled in Ohio, where he became a successful farmer and landowner.

Another significant figure was Charles Bertsch (1858-1925), an American businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania. He founded the Bertsch Company, which manufactured mining equipment, and made substantial donations to educational institutions.

Despite its French origins, the surname Bertsch has been predominantly associated with German-speaking regions over the centuries, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Alsace region where it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bertsch

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

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

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

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