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

Heitmann, 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 Heitmann surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Heitmann in America

Heitmann is the 12525th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Heitmann surname appeared 2,474 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 Heitmann.

We can also compare 2010 data for Heitmann 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 Heitmann

The surname "HEITMANN" originated in northern Germany, specifically in the areas around Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. It is derived from the Old Low German word "heid," meaning "heath" or "moor," combined with the suffix "-mann," meaning "man." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived or worked on a heath or moorland.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century in various church records and tax rolls. One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Hans Heitmann, a farmer from the village of Bargteheide, near Hamburg, who was mentioned in a land registry from 1567.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in several historical documents, including the 1642 parish records of St. Petri Church in Hamburg, which listed the marriage of Claus Heitmann and Anna Sievers. During this period, variations in spelling, such as "Heidtmann" and "Heitman," were also common.

Notable individuals bearing the Heitmann surname include Johann Heitmann (1592-1659), a Lutheran pastor and theologian from Lübeck, who was known for his sermons and published works on religious topics. Another prominent figure was Johann Heinrich Heitmann (1798-1872), a German-American businessman and entrepreneur who founded one of the earliest German-language newspapers in the United States, the "Atlantische Studien," in Baltimore.

In the 19th century, the name gained recognition through Friedrich Wilhelm Heitmann (1820-1890), a German educator and writer who published several textbooks and works on pedagogy. Additionally, Gustav Heitmann (1854-1924), a German sculptor and professor at the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin, gained acclaim for his monumental sculptures and memorials.

During the 20th century, the name was further distinguished by individuals like Erich Heitmann (1900-1978), a German naval officer who served in both World Wars and later became an author and historian, writing extensively about the German navy's role in the conflicts.

Throughout its history, the surname "HEITMANN" has been associated with various professions, ranging from farmers and clergy to entrepreneurs, educators, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Heitmann

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

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

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

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