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

Bittel, 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 Bittel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bittel in America

Bittel is the 42640th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bittel surname appeared 508 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 Bittel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bittel 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 Bittel

The surname Bittel originated from the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely in the areas that are now part of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is believed to have evolved from the Middle High German word "bittel," which means "to demand" or "to request." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who had a reputation for being demanding or assertive.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Bittel can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the medieval period in Saxony, Germany. The name appears in a document dated 1376, where a certain "Johannes Bittel" is mentioned as a resident of the town of Zwickau.

In the 15th century, the surname Bittel was also found in the city of Nuremberg, which was a significant center of trade and commerce in the Holy Roman Empire. A merchant named Hans Bittel is recorded as having lived in Nuremberg during this time, and his descendants may have contributed to the spread of the name throughout the region.

As the name Bittel spread across German-speaking territories, it also underwent various spellings and variations. Some of these include Bittel, Bittell, Bitel, and Bitl. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local customs.

Notable individuals with the surname Bittel include:

1. Johann Bittel (1616-1690), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg, known for his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude.

2. Caspar Bittel (1573-1638), a German theologian and professor at the University of Wittenberg, who wrote extensively on the interpretation of the Bible.

3. Maria Bittel (1856-1922), an Austrian painter and artist known for her landscape and genre paintings.

4. Johann Georg Bittel (1757-1833), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in the city of Augsburg.

5. Friedrich Bittel (1929-2018), a renowned German archaeologist and professor at the University of Munich, known for his excavations and research in ancient Near Eastern sites.

While the surname Bittel may not have been as widespread as some other German names, it has left its mark on various aspects of history, including music, theology, art, architecture, and archaeology. The name's origin and evolution reflect the rich cultural heritage of the German-speaking regions and the diverse contributions of those who bore this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bittel

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

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

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

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