Gutjahr last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Gutjahr

A German surname referring to a good or prosperous year.

Gutjahr, 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 Gutjahr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gutjahr in America

Gutjahr is the 77012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gutjahr surname appeared 249 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 Gutjahr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gutjahr 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 77012 73659 4.45%
Count 249 245 1.62%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.09 -11.76%

The history of the last name Gutjahr

The surname Gutjahr originates from Germany, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words "gut," meaning "good," and "jahr," meaning "year," suggesting a possible association with a bountiful harvest or a prosperous year.

The earliest known records of the Gutjahr name can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname, potentially referring to individuals who experienced a particularly fruitful year or a successful harvest.

In the 15th century, the Gutjahr name appeared in several historical documents, including tax records and town chronicles. One notable mention was in the Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a family by the name of Gutjahr was recorded as landowners and respected members of the community.

Throughout the centuries, the Gutjahr name has been associated with various notable individuals. One prominent figure was Johannes Gutjahr (1532-1605), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in the region of Saxony.

Another noteworthy individual was Hedwig Gutjahr (1872-1944), a German educator and women's rights activist who fought for equal educational opportunities for girls and women in the early 20th century.

In the 18th century, the Gutjahr name gained recognition with the work of Johann Gottfried Gutjahr (1720-1788), a renowned German composer and organist who made significant contributions to the field of sacred music.

During the 19th century, the Gutjahr family produced several accomplished artists and intellectuals, including the painter Karl Gutjahr (1823-1892), whose landscapes and portraits were highly acclaimed in his time.

Another notable figure from the same era was Friedrich Gutjahr (1845-1912), a German philosopher and author who wrote extensively on the topics of ethics and social justice.

Gutjahr is a surname that has been carried across generations, with its origins deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of Germany. While the name may have evolved over time, it continues to hold a significant place in German history and genealogy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gutjahr

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

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 Gutjahr was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.58% 238
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 2.01% 5

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.58% 96.33% -0.78%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% 0.00% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.01% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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"Gutjahr last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 17, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/gutjahr-surname-popularity/.

"Gutjahr last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/gutjahr-surname-popularity/. Accessed 17 May, 2025

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

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