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

Fichter, 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 Fichter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fichter in America

Fichter is the 14208th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fichter surname appeared 2,113 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fichter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fichter 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 Fichter

The surname Fichter originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "vihter," which means "fighter" or "warrior." This suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon a skilled combatant or someone with a reputation for being a fierce fighter.

One of the earliest known records of the Fichter name can be found in the Heidelberg Archives, where a document from 1382 mentions a certain "Hans Fichter" as a resident of the city. This historical reference provides insight into the longevity and geographic distribution of the surname within German-speaking regions.

In the 15th century, the Fichter name appeared in various manuscripts and records across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name's presence in these areas indicates that it was well-established and possibly associated with specific families or communities.

During the 16th century, the surname Fichter underwent several spelling variations, including "Fychter," "Fychter," and "Feychter." These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. One notable individual from this era was Johann Fichter (1516-1587), a prominent theologian and rector of the University of Tübingen.

In the 17th century, the Fichter name gained further recognition with the birth of Johann Christoph Fichter (1638-1711), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach. His contributions to the Baroque music tradition solidified the Fichter name's association with artistic and cultural pursuits.

Moving into the 18th century, the Fichter surname was linked to several notable figures, including Johann Gottfried Fichter (1724-1798), a German theologian and author, and Friedrich Fichter (1779-1854), a renowned German philosopher and professor at the University of Heidelberg.

In the 19th century, the name Fichter continued to be associated with intellectuals and academics, such as Gustav Fichter (1834-1908), a German philologist and scholar of Germanic languages, and Wilhelm Fichter (1865-1947), a respected chemist and professor at the University of Berlin.

Throughout its history, the surname Fichter has been closely tied to its German roots, with its earliest known bearers hailing from southern regions of the country. While the name's original meaning as "fighter" or "warrior" may have evolved over time, it remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of German surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fichter

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

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

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

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