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

Betz, 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 Betz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Betz in America

Betz is the 3527th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Betz surname appeared 10,120 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Betz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Betz 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 Betz

The surname BETZ originated in the region of Bavaria, Germany in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "betz" which meant "brisk" or "lively". The name likely referred to someone with a quick or lively nature.

In the early 13th century, the name appeared in records from the town of Nuremberg, with a Heinricus Betz mentioned in a manuscript from 1237. The spelling has evolved slightly over the centuries, with variations like Betz, Betze, and Betzius appearing in different regions.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Johannes Betz, a prominent merchant from Augsburg who lived from 1435 to 1501. He was involved in the textile trade and is mentioned in several historical documents from the time.

The name BETZ can also be traced back to the village of Betzingen in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which likely took its name from an early settler with the surname. This village was first mentioned in records dating back to 1275.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Joachim Betz, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1520 to 1587. He was a follower of Martin Luther and played a role in the spread of Protestantism in Germany.

Another prominent individual with the surname BETZ was Johann Betz, a German botanist who lived from 1661 to 1719. He made significant contributions to the study of plant life and is credited with discovering several new species of plants.

During the 17th century, the name BETZ also appeared in records from the town of Bamberg, where a family of weavers and textile merchants bore the surname. One member of this family, Hans Betz, was a respected master weaver who lived from 1632 to 1698.

As the name spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, it was also adopted by individuals who may not have been directly related to the original bearers. However, the surname maintained its strong roots in Bavaria and the surrounding areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Betz

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

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

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

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