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

Ketterling, 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 Ketterling surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ketterling in America

Ketterling is the 26576th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ketterling surname appeared 917 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 Ketterling.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ketterling 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 Ketterling

The surname Ketterling is of German origin, with its roots traceable to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Rhineland, specifically in the vicinity of the city of Koblenz. The name is derived from the German word "Kettler," which referred to a maker or seller of small metal chains or chains for armor.

The earliest known record of the Ketterling surname dates back to the 14th century, where it appears in a municipal register from the town of Boppard, located along the Rhine River. In this document, a certain "Hans Ketterlinger" is mentioned as a resident of the town, likely a craftsman engaged in the production or trade of metal chains.

As the name spread across Germany, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Ketterling, Ketterlinger, and Keterling. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal preferences of the time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Ketterling surname was Johann Ketterling (1508-1574), a Lutheran theologian and reformer from Silesia. He played a significant role in the spread of Protestantism in the region and authored several theological works.

Another prominent individual was Friedrich Ketterling (1670-1744), a German architect and builder who was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in the city of Dresden, including the Zwinger Palace.

In the 19th century, the Ketterling surname gained recognition through the work of Karl Ketterling (1815-1892), a German composer and conductor. He composed several operas and orchestral works, which were widely performed during his lifetime.

A more recent historical figure was Erich Ketterling (1906-1985), a German military officer who served in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his service in the Battle of Normandy.

It is worth noting that the Ketterling surname has also been found in various regions of Switzerland, where it is believed to have been introduced by German settlers or immigrants in the late Middle Ages or early modern period.

While the Ketterling surname has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration patterns. However, the historical roots of this name can be traced back to the metal-working craftsmen of the Rhineland region in medieval Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ketterling

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

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

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

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