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

Breitkopf, 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 Breitkopf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Breitkopf in America

Breitkopf is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Breitkopf surname appeared 101 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 Breitkopf.

The history of the last name Breitkopf

The surname Breitkopf is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is derived from the words 'breit,' meaning 'broad,' and 'kopf,' meaning 'head.' The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a broad head or forehead.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Breitkopf name can be found in the records of the town of Wittenberg, Saxony, in the late 16th century. A notable figure bearing this surname was Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, a German printer and publisher born in Leipzig in 1719. He established the renowned Breitkopf & Härtel publishing house, which became a leading producer of music publications and played a significant role in the dissemination of classical music.

Another prominent individual with the Breitkopf surname was Johann Gottfried Emanuel Breitkopf, born in 1784 in Leipzig. He was a composer and music publisher who succeeded his father, Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, in running the family's publishing business. Johann Gottfried Emanuel Breitkopf is credited with introducing several innovations in music printing and publishing during his time.

In the 19th century, Carl Gottfried Wilhelm Breitkopf, born in 1813 in Leipzig, carried on the family's legacy as a music publisher and printer. He was the son of Johann Gottfried Emanuel Breitkopf and took over the family business after his father's death.

The Breitkopf name is also associated with the town of Breitenbach, located in the state of Hesse, Germany. It is possible that some individuals with the Breitkopf surname may have originated from or had connections to this town, as place names were often incorporated into surnames during the Middle Ages.

Another notable figure with the Breitkopf surname was Johann Michael Breitkopf, a German organist and composer born in 1719 in Lübeck. He was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach and is known for his contributions to the development of organ music in the Baroque era.

While the Breitkopf name has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the surname remains closely tied to its Germanic roots and the historical figures who bore it, particularly those associated with the music publishing industry and the cultural heritage of Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Breitkopf

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

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 Breitkopf 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.

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

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

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