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

Detwiller, 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 Detwiller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Detwiller in America

Detwiller is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Detwiller surname appeared 114 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 Detwiller.

We can also compare 2010 data for Detwiller 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 Detwiller

The surname DETWILLER originated in Germany, likely in the late 15th or early 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German words "Dett" or "Tett," meaning "dead" or "deceased," and "Willer," referring to a willower or willow worker. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with willows, perhaps in basket weaving or similar crafts involving willow branches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DETWILLER can be found in the town of Nürnberg (Nuremberg), Germany, in the late 16th century. The name appears in various church records and municipal documents from that period. It is possible that the name originated in or around Nürnberg, as the city had a thriving willow-weaving industry during that time.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name DETWILLER began to spread beyond its initial regional origins. Records show instances of the name in other parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland. During this period, variations in spelling, such as "Dettwiller" and "Detwiler," also emerged.

One notable historical figure with the surname DETWILLER was Johann Wilhelm Detwiller (1670-1743), a German mathematician and astronomer from Nürnberg. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and is credited with developing methods for calculating the orbits of comets.

Another individual of historical significance was Anna Maria Detwiller (1712-1784), a German painter and engraver from Augsburg. She was renowned for her intricate copperplate engravings, which often depicted religious scenes and portraits.

In the 19th century, the surname DETWILLER began to spread beyond the German-speaking regions of Europe. Records show instances of the name in various parts of the United States, likely due to immigration from Germany and other parts of Europe. One notable American with the surname was John Detwiller (1814-1891), a Civil War veteran who fought for the Union Army and later became a prominent businessman in Pennsylvania.

Other individuals with the surname DETWILLER include Wilhelm Detwiller (1808-1875), a German-born American artist known for his landscape paintings, and Matthias Detwiller (1756-1832), a German-born American clockmaker and silversmith who settled in Pennsylvania in the late 18th century.

While the surname DETWILLER may have originated from a specific occupation or trade, it has since become a part of the rich tapestry of family names found throughout Germany, Europe, and beyond, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of people over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Detwiller

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

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

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

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