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

Butkus, 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 Butkus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Butkus in America

Butkus is the 22281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Butkus surname appeared 1,157 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 Butkus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Butkus 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 Butkus

The surname Butkus originates from Lithuania, and it has its roots in the Lithuanian language. The name is derived from the Lithuanian word "butas," which means "house" or "dwelling." It is believed that the name Butkus was initially given to individuals who lived in a particular type of house or to those who were associated with the construction or maintenance of houses.

In the early centuries, surnames were often descriptive, reflecting a person's occupation, physical characteristics, or place of residence. The suffix "-us" is a common ending for Lithuanian surnames, indicating a patronymic or a possessive form. Therefore, Butkus can be translated as "one belonging to the house" or "one associated with the house."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Butkus can be found in historical documents dating back to the 16th century in Lithuania. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania's tax records from the late 16th century, where several individuals with the surname Butkus were listed as taxpayers.

During the Renaissance period, the name Butkus appeared in various Lithuanian manuscripts and chronicles. For example, in the 17th century, a Lithuanian scholar named Jonas Butkus authored a book on Lithuanian grammar and linguistics, contributing to the preservation of the Lithuanian language and culture.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Butkus was Antanas Butkus (1593-1644), a Lithuanian nobleman and military commander who served in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army. He participated in several wars against Sweden and Russia, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

Another prominent figure with the surname Butkus was Motiejus Butkus (1801-1868), a Lithuanian writer, poet, and educator. He played a significant role in the Lithuanian National Revival movement, promoting Lithuanian literature and education. His works, such as "Žemaičių Raštas" (The Writings of Samogitians), are considered important contributions to Lithuanian culture.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Butkus was Dick Butkus (born 1942), an American professional football player. He was a legendary linebacker for the Chicago Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. His fierce playing style and defensive dominance earned him the nickname "The Monster of the Midway."

Lastly, Darius Butkus (born 1967) is a Lithuanian chess grandmaster and former world junior chess champion. He has represented Lithuania in numerous international chess competitions and has made significant contributions to the development of chess in his home country.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Butkus who have left their mark in various fields throughout history, from military service and literature to sports and chess.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Butkus

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

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

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

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