Keitel
A German surname derived from the Middle High German word 'kittel' meaning a cloak or coat.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 548 Americans carry the last name Keitel. That puts it at #45,653 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 625,464 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Keitel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
548
1 in 625,464
Census rank
#45,653
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
468
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 468 bearers of the surname Keitel in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 45653rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Keitel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Black (1.1%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Keitel
The surname Keitel originates from Germany and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "ketil," which means "kettle" or "cauldron." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who worked with kettles or made cauldrons.
In the 13th century, the name Keitel appeared in various records and documents across various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia. Some of the earliest recorded spellings of the name include Ketil, Kettil, and Kettel, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
One of the earliest known references to the Keitel name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Anhalt region of Germany, dating back to the 14th century. This document mentions a person named "Heynricus Kettel" in the year 1357.
In the 16th century, the Keitel name was associated with several notable individuals. One of them was Johann Keitel (1511-1584), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another notable figure was Hans Keitel (1542-1607), a German painter and engraver known for his religious works.
During the 17th century, the Keitel surname became more widespread across Germany. One notable bearer of the name was Georg Keitel (1641-1703), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Duke of Saxe-Merseburg.
In the 19th century, the Keitel name gained prominence with Wilhelm Keitel (1882-1946), a German field marshal who served as the head of the Armed Forces High Command during World War II. He was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials and executed in 1946.
Another notable individual with the Keitel surname was Walter Keitel (1892-1942), a German artist and painter known for his expressionist works. He was a member of the Berlin Secession, a group of artists who broke away from the traditional artistic establishment.
Throughout history, the Keitel surname has been associated with various occupations, including metalworkers, artisans, musicians, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and professions of those who bore this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Keitel
Among Census respondents with the surname Keitel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Black (1.1%) and Hispanic (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Keitel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Keitel surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.7%
- Black or African American1.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.1%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Keitel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #45,653 | #45,653 | 0.0% |
| Count | 468 | 468 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.16 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Keitel bearers went from 468 to 468 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #45,653 to #45,653.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Keitel
FAQ
Keitel surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Keitel?
The surname Keitel holds position #45,653 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 548 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Keitel surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Keitel, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Black (1.1%) and Hispanic (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.