Bittner
A German occupational surname referring to a cooper or barrel maker, derived from the Middle High German "bütenære".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 10,660 Americans carry the last name Bittner. That puts it at #3,870 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 3.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 32,153 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bittner surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
11K
1 in 32,153
Census rank
#3,870
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
3.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
9.2K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 9,163 bearers of the surname Bittner in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 3.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 3870th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bittner, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bittner
The surname Bittner is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "bitten," meaning "to ask" or "to request." It likely originated as an occupational name for a court messenger or a petitioner.
The earliest recorded instances of the Bittner surname can be found in various German regions, such as Bavaria and Saxony. In the town of Nürnberg, the name appears in historical records dating back to the late 15th century, with mentions of individuals like Hans Bittner, a local merchant born in 1472.
In the 16th century, the Bittner name gained prominence in the region of Silesia, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. One notable figure was Johann Bittner (1524-1591), a renowned theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in Silesia.
As the centuries progressed, the Bittner surname continued to spread across German-speaking lands. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Duchy of Pomerania, where the name was recorded in parish registers and census documents. Johann Friedrich Bittner (1723-1799), a prominent merchant from the town of Stralsund, was a influential figure in the local community.
The 19th century saw the Bittner name appearing in various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly in the regions of Bohemia and Moravia. One notable individual from this period was Anton Bittner (1845-1918), a Czech geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossils and stratigraphy.
Another important figure was Gustav Bittner (1837-1914), an Austrian architect who designed several notable buildings in Vienna, including the Burgtheater and the Votive Church. His works played a crucial role in shaping the architectural landscape of the city.
As migration patterns evolved, the Bittner surname also found its way to other parts of Europe and beyond. In the United States, the earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the mid-19th century, with immigrants from German-speaking regions settling in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bittner
Among Census respondents with the surname Bittner, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Bittner bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bittner surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bittner surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,551 | #3,870 | -9.0% |
| Count | 9,185 | 9,163 | -0.2% |
| Per 100K | 3.40 | 3.11 | -8.5% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Bittner bearers went from 9,185 to 9,163 (-0.2% change). The surname moved down 319 positions in the national ranking, going from #3,551 to #3,870.
FAQ
Bittner surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bittner?
The surname Bittner holds position #3,870 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 10,660 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 3.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bittner surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bittner, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.