Bitsue last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Bitsue

An Anglo-Saxon surname likely derived from a place name or village.

Bitsue, 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 Bitsue surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bitsue in America

Bitsue is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bitsue surname appeared 109 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 Bitsue.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bitsue 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 150452 134037 11.54%
Count 109 116 -6.22%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Bitsue

The surname BITSUE has its origins in the Navajo Nation, a Native American territory located in the Southwestern United States, primarily in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. This name traces its roots back to the early 19th century, when the Navajo people were still largely nomadic.

BITSUE is derived from the Navajo language, specifically from the phrase "Bits'iis 'ee'e," which translates to "sheared forest" or "trimmed trees." This likely refers to an area or region where the Navajo people may have resided or traveled, characterized by trees that were pruned or cleared for various reasons.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the BITSUE surname can be found in the journals of Spanish missionaries and explorers who encountered the Navajo people in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These accounts provide valuable insights into the lives and customs of the Navajo at that time.

Throughout the 19th century, as the Navajo people became more settled and integrated into the broader society, the BITSUE surname began to appear in official records and documents. Notable individuals bearing this surname include:

  1. Hosteen Bitsue (c. 1820 - 1906), a prominent Navajo headman and leader who played a significant role in negotiations between the Navajo Nation and the United States government.

  2. Alice Bitsue (1892 - 1984), a renowned Navajo weaver and artisan whose works are showcased in various museums and galleries.

  3. Frank Bitsue (1918 - 2002), a Navajo Code Talker who served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, helping to transmit coded messages in the Navajo language.

  4. Luci Tapahonso (b. 1953), a celebrated Navajo poet and writer who has received numerous accolades for her works exploring Native American themes and experiences. Her maiden name is Bitsue.

  5. Jerome Bitsue (b. 1967), a contemporary Navajo artist known for his intricate pottery and sculptures that draw inspiration from traditional Navajo designs and motifs.

While the BITSUE surname may not be as widespread as some other Native American names, it holds great significance within the Navajo community, reflecting their rich cultural heritage and connection to the land they have inhabited for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bitsue

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

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 Bitsue was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 6.42% 7
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 90.83% 99
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

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 Bitsue has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 6.42% (S)% (S)%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 90.83% 93.97% -3.40%
Two or More Races (S)% 4.31% (S)%
Hispanic 0.00% (S)% (S)%

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

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

"Bitsue last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/bitsue-surname-popularity/.

"Bitsue last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/bitsue-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Bitsue last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/bitsue-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.