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

Pittenger, 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 Pittenger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pittenger in America

Pittenger is the 11163rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pittenger surname appeared 2,834 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pittenger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pittenger 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 Pittenger

The surname Pittenger is believed to have originated in Germany, likely derived from the German word "Bittinger," which itself is thought to come from the Middle High German word "bittingeære," meaning "petitioner" or "one who asks for favors." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was a beggar or someone who relied on the charity of others.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in various regions of present-day Germany. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Pittenger, who was mentioned in a historical document from the city of Cologne in 1287.

Over time, the name spread to other parts of Europe, and different spellings emerged, such as Pettinger, Pittinger, and Pittinger. It is worth noting that many surnames were derived from occupations or personal characteristics during the Middle Ages, and the name Pittenger may have followed a similar pattern.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in England, likely brought over by German immigrants. One notable individual from this period was William Pittenger, who was born in London in 1542 and served as a merchant and alderman in the city.

As the centuries progressed, the Pittenger name continued to spread across Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, including the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was that of Johannes Pittenger, who arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany in 1732.

Several notable individuals have borne the Pittenger surname throughout history. These include:

1. William Pittenger (1832-1904), an American soldier who was one of the famous Andrews Raiders during the American Civil War.
2. Marjorie Pittenger (1907-1986), an American artist and illustrator known for her work in children's books.
3. Benjamin F. Pittenger (1822-1910), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
4. John Pittenger (1745-1815), an American Revolutionary War soldier and pioneer who helped settle parts of Ohio.
5. John Pittenger (1797-1870), an American businessman and banker who co-founded the Pittenger & Roberts Stove Company in Philadelphia.

While the name Pittenger may have humble origins, it has since been borne by individuals from various walks of life, contributing to the rich tapestry of history and culture across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pittenger

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

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

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

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