2000
#8,249
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,695
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.37
Rare Last name
Ginter
Derived from the German surname Günther, meaning "battle warrior" or "bold warrior."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,061 Americans carry the last name Ginter. That puts it at #8,878 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 84,401 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ginter surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.1K
1 in 84,401
Census rank
#8,878
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,541 bearers of the surname Ginter in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.18 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8878th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ginter, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ginter
The surname Ginter originated in Germany, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the town of Güntersen, located in the Westphalia region of western Germany. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old German word "gund," meaning "war" or "battle."
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Ginter can be found in the 13th-century records of the town of Güntersen, where a certain Henrich Ginter was mentioned as a landowner. Additionally, the name appeared in various medieval German chronicles and manuscripts, suggesting its widespread use during that period.
In the 16th century, a notable figure by the name of Hans Ginter (1510-1587) was a prominent merchant and city councilor in the German city of Nuremberg. His influential status and contributions to the city's economy and governance helped establish the Ginter name as one of prominence and respect.
Another significant individual bearing the Ginter surname was Johann Wilhelm Ginter (1676-1732), a renowned German architect and engineer. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and structures in his home region, including churches, palaces, and bridges.
Moving forward in time, the 19th century saw the birth of Friedrich Ginter (1801-1879), a German philosopher and educator. His works on ethics and moral philosophy gained recognition across Europe, and he was widely regarded as a leading intellectual figure of his time.
In the realm of literature, the name Ginter is associated with the German poet and novelist Wilhelm Ginter (1825-1898). His poetic works, often exploring themes of nature and the human condition, earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated following during the Romantic era.
It is important to note that while the surname Ginter has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the focus of this report remains on the historical origins and significance of the name within the German context.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ginter
Among Census respondents with the surname Ginter, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Ginter bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ginter surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8% · 3,285
- Hispanic or Latino3.1% · 111
- Two or more races3.0% · 106
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 21
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 10
- Black or African American0.2% · 8
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ginter
Ginter appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,659
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,795
+100 bearers (+2.7%)
Per 100,000 1.29
Rank movement Down 410 places
2020
#8,878
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,541
-254 bearers (-6.7%)
Per 100,000 1.18
Rank movement Down 219 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,249 | 3,695 | 1.37 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,659 | 3,795 | 1.29 | +100 bearers (+2.7%) | Down 410 places |
| 2020 | #8,878 | 3,541 | 1.18 | -254 bearers (-6.7%) | Down 219 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ginter surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,659 | #8,878 | -2.5% |
| Count | 3,795 | 3,541 | -6.7% |
| Per 100K | 1.29 | 1.18 | -8.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ginter bearers went from 3,795 to 3,541 (-6.7% change). The surname moved down 219 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,659 to #8,878.
FAQ
Ginter surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ginter?
Name Census estimates that about 4,061 living Americans carry the surname Ginter. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 84,401 residents.
How common is Ginter?
Ginter ranks #8,878 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.18 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,541 people with the surname Ginter. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,061), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.18 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.18 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Ginter.
Has Ginter become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ginter went from 3,795 recorded bearers to 3,541. That is a decrease of 254 (-6.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #8,659 to #8,878.
What does the Census say about the background of Ginter?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ginter, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (3.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ginter in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.8% (3,285 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ginter appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.8%), Hispanic (3.1%), Two or More Races (3.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ginter (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ginter mean?
Derived from the German surname Günther, meaning "battle warrior" or "bold warrior." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ginter (1.18 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Ginter?
If you just want to know how many Americans have the surname Ginter, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.