Gute last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Gute

A German surname meaning "good" or "benevolent" in nature.

Gute, 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 Gute surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gute in America

Gute is the 60347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gute surname appeared 334 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 Gute.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gute 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 60347 57985 3.99%
Count 334 328 1.81%
Proportion per 100k 0.11 0.12 -8.70%

The history of the last name Gute

The surname "Gute" is of German origin, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the German word "gut," which means "good" or "well." The name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname, referring to a person's character or behavior.

In the earliest records, the surname "Gute" was often spelled as "Gutte" or "Gutte." These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that period. The name can also be traced to various regions within Germany, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Westphalia.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "Gute" was Hans Gute, a German merchant and trader born in Nuremberg in 1520. His family was involved in the textile trade, and he played a significant role in establishing trade routes between Germany and the Netherlands.

Another prominent figure was Johann Gute, a Lutheran theologian born in Magdeburg in 1585. He studied at the University of Wittenberg and later became a professor of theology at the University of Jena. Gute was known for his contributions to the interpretation of the Bible and his writings on Protestant doctrine.

In the 18th century, Friedrich Gute, born in 1721 in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia), gained recognition as a renowned architect. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin.

As the surname spread across Germany, it also found its way into other regions. One noteworthy individual was Karl Gute, an Austrian painter born in Vienna in 1810. He was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works were exhibited in various galleries throughout Europe.

Another figure of historical significance was Clara Gute, born in Cologne, Germany, in 1870. She was a pioneering feminist and social activist who advocated for women's rights and education. Gute founded several organizations dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equality.

While these examples illustrate the presence of the surname "Gute" throughout history, it is important to note that the name's origins and early occurrences are primarily rooted in German-speaking regions. The name's evolution and spread across different countries and cultures have contributed to its diverse historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gute

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

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 Gute was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.61% 316
Non-Hispanic Black Only 2.40% 8
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 2.10% 7

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 Gute has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.61% 94.21% 0.42%
Black 2.40% 0.00% 200.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.10% 4.57% -74.06%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Gute last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/gute-surname-popularity/.

"Gute last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/gute-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

Gute last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/gute-surname-popularity/.

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