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

Heiter, 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 Heiter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heiter in America

Heiter is the 62359th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heiter surname appeared 321 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 Heiter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heiter 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 Heiter

The surname Heiter originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the early Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old High German word "heitar," meaning "bright" or "cheerful." The name likely referred to someone with a sunny disposition or a bright complexion.

One of the earliest known references to the Heiter surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a person named "Heidrich" in the 12th century. This spelling variation suggests that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Heyther" and "Heyther," in records from the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. These early mentions indicate that the Heiter family had established roots in different parts of Germany.

One notable individual bearing the Heiter surname was Johannes Heiter (1492-1547), a German theologian and Protestant reformer. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the Reformation movement in Saxony.

Another prominent figure was Michael Heiter (1560-1621), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Saxony. His works, including sacred motets and instrumental compositions, were widely performed during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the Heiter surname gained recognition with Johann Friedrich Heiter (1717-1789), a German philosopher and theologian. He was known for his contributions to the field of ethics and his writings on moral philosophy.

Moving into the 19th century, Friedrich Heiter (1801-1876) was a German lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and played a role in the revolutionary movements of 1848-1849.

The surname Heiter is also associated with place names, such as Heiterbach, a small town in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, which likely derived its name from the family or individuals with the Heiter surname who resided there.

While the Heiter surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins and early history remain deeply rooted in the German language and the regions of Central Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heiter

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

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

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

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