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

Fechter, 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 Fechter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fechter in America

Fechter is the 28679th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fechter surname appeared 831 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 Fechter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fechter 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 Fechter

The surname Fechter has its origins in Germany, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "fechten," which means "to fence" or "to fight." This suggests that the name may have been originally borne by a skilled swordsman or a professional fencer.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 14th century, with variations in spelling such as Fechter, Fechtner, and Fechtere. These early records are found in various German regions, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Wilhelm Fechter, a German-American actor born in 1833 and died in 1907. He achieved fame on both sides of the Atlantic and was particularly renowned for his portrayal of Hamlet.

Another individual of note was Ernst Fechter, a German painter and illustrator who lived from 1799 to 1863. His works were highly regarded during his lifetime, and he is remembered for his detailed depictions of rural life in Germany.

In the realm of literature, Gustav Theodor Fechner, born in 1801 and died in 1887, was a German philosopher and psychologist. He is credited with introducing the concept of the "inner psychophysical measurement" and is considered a pioneer in the field of experimental psychology.

The name Fechter is also associated with several place names in Germany, such as Fechterdorf, a small village in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Fechterhof, a historic farm estate located in the town of Schöneck, Hesse.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Johann Gottfried Fechter, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1692 to 1773. He made significant contributions to the field of Protestant theology and served as a professor at the University of Leipzig.

While the surname Fechter is relatively uncommon today, it holds a rich historical significance, particularly in Germany, where it has been documented for centuries and has been associated with various professions, artistic endeavors, and scholarly pursuits.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fechter

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

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

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

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