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

Bittle, 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 Bittle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bittle in America

Bittle is the 9850th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bittle surname appeared 3,284 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 Bittle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bittle 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 Bittle

The surname Bittle has its origins traced back to England, with records dating as far back as the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bytl," which means a beetlestone, referring to a hard and durable rock used for grinding or sharpening tools.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries that mention individuals with the surname Bittle or similar spellings such as Bittell or Bittill. These entries suggest that the name was prevalent in various parts of the country at that time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Bittle can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a William Bittle is mentioned as a landowner. Another notable mention is in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1292, which reference a Henry de Bytyl.

The surname Bittle has also been associated with certain place names, such as Bittle in Gloucestershire and Bittlewell in Derbyshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Bittle throughout history include:

1. John Bittle (c. 1550-1614), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes in Sussex.
2. William Bittle (1673-1745), a prominent merchant and landowner in colonial Virginia, United States.
3. Sarah Bittle (1784-1858), an American quilter and textile artist known for her intricate needlework.
4. James Bittle (1835-1918), a Scottish-born Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.
5. Reginald Bittle (1888-1951), a British military officer who served in both World War I and World War II, receiving the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery.

While the surname Bittle may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "bytl," reflecting the historical significance of the name in England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bittle

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

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

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

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