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

Ketner, 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 Ketner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ketner in America

Ketner is the 11578th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ketner surname appeared 2,715 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 Ketner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ketner 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 Ketner

The surname Ketner is believed to have originated in Germany, with records indicating its presence in various regions of the country as early as the 16th century. One of the earliest documented mentions of the name can be traced back to a village called Kettenheim, located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is possible that the surname Ketner derived from this place name, with the suffix "-er" indicating an association with or origin from Kettenheim.

Another theory suggests that the name Ketner may have its roots in the German word "Kette," which means chain or fetter, potentially indicating an occupation or trade related to metalworking or blacksmithing. This association could have led to the surname being adopted by individuals engaged in such professions.

In the 18th century, records show a Ketner family residing in the town of Altenburg, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. One notable individual from this family was Johann Friedrich Ketner, a renowned theologian and philosopher who lived from 1720 to 1788. His works on moral philosophy and ethics were widely studied and influential during his time.

Moving into the 19th century, the Ketner surname appears to have spread across various regions of Germany and neighboring countries. In 1832, a man named Wilhelm Ketner was born in the city of Cologne, and he later became a respected academic and author, publishing several books on literature and linguistics.

Across the Atlantic, the earliest known record of the Ketner surname in the United States dates back to the late 18th century, when a family of Ketners settled in Pennsylvania. One of their descendants, Henry Ketner, born in 1842, went on to become a prominent figure in the field of education, serving as the president of a prestigious college in the state.

Another notable individual with the surname Ketner was Maria Ketner, a German artist and sculptor who lived from 1876 to 1954. Her works, which often depicted scenes from everyday life, were widely acclaimed and can be found in several museums and art galleries across Europe.

While the surname Ketner may have its origins in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with families bearing this name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on history through their accomplishments and contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ketner

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

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

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

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