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

Kistler, 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 Kistler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kistler in America

Kistler is the 5185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kistler surname appeared 6,742 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kistler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kistler 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 Kistler

The surname Kistler originated in Germany and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Kiste," which means "chest" or "box." The name likely referred to someone who made or sold chests or boxes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kistler can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to the late 15th century. The name was also found in various other German regions, including Bavaria and Saxony.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Kistler appeared in various historical documents and manuscripts, such as church records and guild registers. One notable mention is in the records of the Carpenters' Guild in Augsburg, where a certain Johannes Kistler was listed as a member in the year 1598.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Kistler was Hans Kistler, a woodworker born in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, in 1472. Another early figure was Margaretha Kistler, a prominent merchant from Nuremberg, who lived from 1524 to 1589.

As the name Kistler spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, it also evolved into various spelling variations, such as Kistner, Kistener, and Kisterer. Some of these variations were influenced by local dialects or regional variations.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname Kistler was Johann Kistler, a renowned German architect who lived from 1665 to 1737. He was responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Bavaria.

Another prominent figure was Karl Kistler, a German philosopher and author who lived from 1848 to 1923. He wrote extensively on topics such as ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion.

In the United States, the Kistler surname can be traced back to German immigrants who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the earliest recorded Kistlers in America was Johann Kistler, who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1740s.

A notable American Kistler was Walter E. Kistler, a chemist and engineer who lived from 1918 to 1995. He made significant contributions to the field of aerodynamics and was instrumental in the development of high-speed wind tunnels.

Overall, the surname Kistler has a rich history rooted in medieval Germany, with its origins linked to the craft of woodworking and chest-making. While the name has spread to various parts of the world, its Germanic roots and associations with craftsmanship remain an integral part of its heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kistler

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

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

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

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