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

Burgtorf, 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 Burgtorf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Burgtorf in America

Burgtorf is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Burgtorf surname appeared 143 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 Burgtorf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Burgtorf 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 Burgtorf

The surname Burgtorf is of German origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century in the region of Lower Saxony. The name is derived from the Old German words "burg" meaning a fortified town or castle, and "torf" referring to a peat bog or moor. This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone residing near a fortified settlement surrounded by peat bogs or marshlands.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Burgtorf name can be found in a 1562 registry of landowners in the town of Burgdorf, near Hanover. This document lists a "Hans Burgtorf" as a tenant farmer holding a small parcel of land. The name's spelling has remained relatively consistent over the centuries, with minor variations such as "Burgdorf" or "Burgtorff" appearing in some historical records.

In the 17th century, a notable individual bearing the Burgtorf name was Johann Burgtorf (1598-1672), a Lutheran theologian and professor at the University of Rostock. His published works, including treatises on theology and philosophy, are preserved in several university libraries across Germany.

During the 18th century, the Burgtorf name gained prominence in the region of Oldenburg, with a family of merchants and landowners bearing the surname. One member, Heinrich Burgtorf (1712-1789), was a successful trader and ship owner who acquired significant wealth and landholdings in the area.

In the 19th century, a notable figure was Friedrich Burgtorf (1835-1901), a pioneering German architect known for his innovative designs in the Neo-Renaissance style. Some of his most notable works include the Oldenburg State Theater and the Oldenburg Castle, which still stand today as landmarks in the city.

Another individual of note was Karl Burgtorf (1876-1942), a German explorer and naturalist who led several expeditions to the Amazon rainforest in the early 20th century. His detailed accounts and collections of plant and animal specimens contributed significantly to the study of Amazonian biodiversity at the time.

While the Burgtorf surname has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the name remains relatively uncommon outside of its historical homeland in Northern Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Burgtorf

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

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

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

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