Mutt last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Mutt

A surname derived from an old word for mixed breed or homeless dog.

Mutt, 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 Mutt surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Mutt in America

Mutt is the 149328th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mutt surname appeared 101 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Mutt.

The history of the last name Mutt

The surname Mutt traces its origins to the ancient Germanic regions, specifically within the confines of medieval Germany. First appearing in the early Middle Ages, around the 12th century, the name is derived from a variety of older words. One such word is the Old High German term "muot," which translates to "spirit" or "courage." This connection suggests that the original bearers of the name could have been recognized for their bravery or spirited nature.

Mutt is also associated with the Germanic personal name "Mutho," which appears in various forms in medieval records. Documents from regions like Bavaria and Saxony in the 12th and 13th centuries reflect this usage, with names such as Muto and Mutto appearing in charters and legal documents.

The first notable historical reference to the surname Mutt can be found in the records of a 13th-century Bavarian village. An individual named Heinrich Mutt is mentioned in a land transaction dated 1245, signifying the name's established presence in the region. The name also appears in church registers from the 14th century, notably in the form of Johan Mut, who was a cleric in the Rhineland area in 1375.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name in English-speaking countries is from the 16th century, when German immigrants brought the surname to England. Martin Mutt, born in 1579, is documented as a merchant in London. His descendants continued to prosper in England, with his grandson, William Mutt, born in 1620, becoming a noted landowner in Kent by the late 17th century.

The surname further migrated to American shores in the 18th century. Johann Mutt, born in 1701, is recorded in Pennsylvania in 1735. He played a significant role in the local German-American community, contributing to the establishment of several institutions in the state.

Another prominent figure is Fritz-Erik Mutt, born in 1878 in Germany, who became a well-known naturalist and contributed significantly to early 20th-century botanical studies. His works are still referenced in scholarly articles today.

Through its long history, the surname Mutt has been associated with qualities of courage and spirit, reflected in the etymology of the name itself. This surname tells a story of migration and settlement, moving from medieval Germany to England and eventually to America, carried by individuals who left their mark in various domains.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mutt

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mutt was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 55.45% 56
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 7.92% 8
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 31.68% 32

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.

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

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

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"Mutt last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/mutt-surname-popularity/.

"Mutt last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/mutt-surname-popularity/. Accessed 18 June, 2025

Mutt last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/mutt-surname-popularity/.

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