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

Hostetler, 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 Hostetler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hostetler in America

Hostetler is the 2490th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hostetler surname appeared 14,505 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Hostetler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hostetler 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 Hostetler

The surname Hostetler has its origins in the German language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have originated in the region of modern-day Switzerland, where it was initially spelled as "Hostetler" or "Hostettler." The name is believed to be derived from the Old High German word "hostatt," meaning a farmstead or a small settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hostetler name can be found in the Rottweil city records from the 14th century, where a certain "Hans Hostettler" was mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use and established in the region during that time period.

As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Hostätter," "Hostater," and "Hostetteler." These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the individual preferences of record-keepers.

In the 16th century, the Hostetler family is known to have been established in the Alsace region of France, where they were involved in agricultural and viticultural activities. During this time, the name appeared in local tax records and land ownership documents.

One notable individual bearing the Hostetler surname was Johann Hostetler (1639-1719), a Swiss Anabaptist leader who emigrated to the United States in the late 17th century. He was among the first Amish settlers in the Pennsylvania colony and played a significant role in establishing the Amish community in North America.

Another prominent figure was David Hostetler (1784-1868), an American inventor and entrepreneur from Ohio. He is credited with inventing the first successful threshing machine, which revolutionized agricultural practices in the 19th century.

In the realm of literature, Herman Hostetler (1904-1987) was an American writer and poet known for his works capturing the rural life and traditions of the Amish community in Pennsylvania.

The Hostetler surname has also been associated with notable figures in academia and science. One such individual was John A. Hostetler (1918-2001), an anthropologist and author who specialized in the study of Amish and Hutterite communities.

Finally, mention should be made of Judith P. Hostetler (1916-1997), an American librarian and author who made significant contributions to the field of library science and children's literature.

Through the centuries, the Hostetler surname has maintained a strong connection to its German and Swiss roots, while also becoming well-established in various parts of the world, particularly in North America, where it has been associated with individuals from diverse walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hostetler

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

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

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

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