Mettler
A surname of German origin referring to a person who made measuring instruments or worked as a corn measurer.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,770 Americans carry the last name Mettler. That puts it at #9,929 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 90,916 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mettler 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
3.8K
1 in 90,916
Census rank
#9,929
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.3K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,250 bearers of the surname Mettler in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9929th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mettler, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mettler
The surname METTLER has its origins in Switzerland, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Mettel," which means "small cultivated plot of land." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely farmers or landowners.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the METTLER name can be found in the Swiss Canton of Bern in the late 1500s. Historical records from that time mention individuals with variations of the spelling, such as Mettler, Metteler, and Mettelер.
In the 17th century, the METTLER name began to appear in various Swiss villages and towns, indicating the family's spread throughout the region. One notable figure from this era was Johann METTLER, a wealthy merchant and landowner born in Zurich in 1632.
As the METTLER family continued to grow and expand, some members migrated to other parts of Europe and even to the Americas. In the 18th century, records show a METTLER family settling in the German state of Bavaria, where they established themselves as successful farmers and tradespeople.
One of the most prominent figures bearing the METTLER name was Friedrich METTLER, a Swiss watchmaker born in 1828. He founded the Mettler Toledo company, which became a leading manufacturer of precision instruments and weighing scales.
Another notable METTLER was Hans METTLER, a Swiss artist and sculptor born in 1915. His works were exhibited in galleries throughout Europe and the United States, and he is renowned for his abstract and modernist style.
Other individuals of note include Johann Jakob METTLER (1783-1853), a Swiss politician and member of the cantonal government of Bern, and Karl METTLER (1891-1976), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and Munich.
Throughout its history, the METTLER surname has maintained a strong presence in Switzerland, Germany, and other parts of Europe, with many families continuing to carry on the legacy of this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mettler
Among Census respondents with the surname Mettler, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Mettler 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 Mettler surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- Black or African American0.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mettler 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 | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,882 | #9,929 | -0.5% |
| Count | 3,013 | 3,250 | 7.9% |
| Per 100K | 1.12 | 1.10 | -1.8% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mettler bearers went from 3,013 to 3,250 (+7.9% change). The surname moved down 47 positions in the national ranking, going from #9,882 to #9,929.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mettler
FAQ
Mettler surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mettler?
The surname Mettler holds position #9,929 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,770 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.10 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mettler surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mettler, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). 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.