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

Bitsui, 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 Bitsui surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bitsui in America

Bitsui is the 68949th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bitsui surname appeared 285 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 Bitsui.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bitsui 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 Bitsui

The surname BITSUI has its origins in the Navajo language, spoken by the Navajo people (Diné) of the southwestern United States. It is a relatively modern surname, likely adopted in the late 19th or early 20th century when the Navajo began using fixed family names.

BITSUI is derived from the Navajo word "bitsi'í," which means "lichen" or "moss." It may have originally been a descriptive name given to someone who lived in an area abundant with lichen, or perhaps referring to a person's hair or appearance. The Navajo language has a tradition of naming people and clans after natural elements or characteristics.

There are no known historical references to the surname BITSUI in ancient texts or records prior to the late 19th century. However, the name likely has much older roots within the oral traditions and naming practices of the Navajo people.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BITSUI was Hosteen Bitsui (c. 1860-1945), a respected Navajo medicine man and spiritual leader. He was known for his expertise in traditional healing practices and played a significant role in preserving Navajo culture and language.

Another notable figure was Chee Bitsui (1901-1980), a Navajo silversmith and jeweler who helped revive and popularize traditional Navajo silversmithing techniques in the mid-20th century. His works are highly sought after and can be found in museums and private collections.

Wilbur Bitsui (1934-2020) was a prominent Navajo artist known for his intricate weavings and tapestries, which often incorporated traditional Navajo designs and symbolism. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to preserving and promoting Navajo culture through art.

In the field of literature, Sherwin Bitsui (born 1975) is a renowned Navajo poet and author. His works explore themes of identity, language, and the intersection of Native American and contemporary experiences. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Whiting Award and the PEN Open Book Award.

Lastly, Chee Bitsui (1897-1966), a different individual from the earlier silversmith, was a Navajo Code Talker who served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He played a crucial role in the development and use of the Navajo code, which helped secure Allied communication and contributed to the eventual victory.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bitsui

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

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

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

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