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

Bleecher, 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 Bleecher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bleecher in America

Bleecher is the 105079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bleecher surname appeared 170 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 Bleecher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bleecher 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 Bleecher

The surname BLEECHER has its origins in Germany, tracing back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "bleich," meaning "pale" or "light-colored." This could suggest that the name was initially descriptive, referring to an individual with a fair complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name BLEECHER can be found in a 1572 document from the town of Augsburg, where a merchant named Hans Bleecher is mentioned. This lends credence to the theory that the name originated in the southern regions of Germany.

In the 17th century, the name BLEECHER appeared in various records across the German states, including mentions in the town archives of Heidelberg and Freiburg. It is believed that during this period, some BLEECHER families migrated to neighboring countries, such as Switzerland and Austria.

A notable figure bearing the name BLEECHER was Johann Bleecher (1612-1678), a renowned clockmaker from Nuremberg. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by European nobility and still exist in various museum collections today.

As the centuries progressed, the BLEECHER name spread further across Europe. In the 19th century, a family of BLEECHERS settled in the Netherlands, where they established a successful textile business. One member of this family, Willem Bleecher (1824-1901), was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist in Amsterdam.

Another prominent individual with the BLEECHER surname was Friedrich Bleecher (1792-1859), a German philosopher and professor at the University of Berlin. His writings on ethics and morality were widely influential during the Romantic era.

In the United States, the BLEECHER name can be traced back to the late 18th century, when German immigrants began settling in Pennsylvania and other eastern states. One of the earliest recorded BLEECHERS in America was Jacob Bleecher (1765-1842), a farmer who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Overall, the surname BLEECHER has a rich history spanning multiple centuries and countries, with its roots firmly planted in the Germanic regions of Europe. While the name's exact origins may be shrouded in mystery, its enduring presence across generations and cultures is a testament to its significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bleecher

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

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

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

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