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

Netter, 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 Netter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Netter in America

Netter is the 20985th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Netter surname appeared 1,254 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 Netter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Netter 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 Netter

The surname Netter originated from the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "nëtter," meaning a net-maker or a person who crafted fishing nets. This occupation-based surname suggests that the earliest bearers were involved in the fishing trade or perhaps the production of nets for various purposes.

The name Netter first appeared in historical records in the region known as the Holy Roman Empire, which encompassed parts of modern-day Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and neighboring areas. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the town of Nürnberg, where a certain Hans Netter was mentioned in a legal document dated 1392.

As surnames became more widely adopted across Europe, the name Netter began to spread to other regions, particularly along trade routes and areas with significant fishing communities. In some areas, the name may have evolved into slightly different spellings, such as Nettere or Netter, reflecting local dialect variations.

Noteworthy individuals bearing the surname Netter include Johann Netter von Eppan (1490-1557), a renowned Tyrolean architect and sculptor known for his work on the Hofburg Palace in Innsbruck. Another notable figure was Johann Baptist Netter (1675-1747), a German Catholic priest and theologian who served as the rector of the University of Würzburg.

In the realm of arts and literature, the name Netter is associated with Edmund Netter (1842-1907), a German-American painter and illustrator celebrated for his depictions of landscapes and rural life. Additionally, Thomas Netter (1930-2022) was a prominent American physician and medical illustrator, renowned for his contributions to the field of medical education and his widely used anatomical illustrations.

Moving forward in history, the name Netter gained recognition through the achievements of Randolph Netter (1926-2012), an American businessman and philanthropist who established the renowned Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania. His generosity and commitment to community engagement left a lasting impact.

While the surname Netter may have originated from humble beginnings in the net-making trade, its bearers have made their mark across various disciplines, from architecture and religion to art, medicine, and philanthropy, showcasing the diverse paths that this surname has taken throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Netter

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

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

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

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