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

Hetzer, 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 Hetzer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hetzer in America

Hetzer is the 25136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hetzer surname appeared 987 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 Hetzer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hetzer 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 Hetzer

The surname HETZER is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "hetzen," which means "to chase" or "to hunt." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were involved in hunting or related occupations.

The earliest recorded instances of the HETZER surname can be found in various German regions, such as Bavaria and Saxony, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. In these early records, the name appeared with variations in spelling, including Hetzner, Hetzer, and Hetzler, reflecting the linguistic changes and regional dialects of the time.

One notable historical reference to the HETZER surname is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, which mentions a certain "Heinricus Hetzner" in the year 1312. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the early 14th century in that region.

In terms of notable individuals bearing the HETZER surname, one prominent figure was Johann Hetzer (c. 1495-1529), a German Anabaptist leader and reformer who played a significant role in the Radical Reformation movement. Another individual of note was Johann Michael Hetzer (1671-1737), a German sculptor and woodcarver known for his intricate works adorning churches and monasteries in Bavaria.

The HETZER surname also has connections to various place names and geographical locations in Germany. For instance, the town of Hetzles in Bavaria was once known as "Hetzers" or "Hetzershausen," which may have influenced the surname's development and distribution in that region.

Other notable individuals with the HETZER surname include Johann Adam Hetzer (1721-1802), a German theologian and author, and Georg Hetzer (1788-1849), a German painter and printmaker renowned for his landscape works.

While the HETZER surname may not be as widely recognized as some other German surnames, its historical roots and associations with hunting, occupations, and specific geographical areas provide insights into the cultural and linguistic heritage of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hetzer

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

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

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

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