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

Pitzer, 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 Pitzer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pitzer in America

Pitzer is the 9624th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pitzer surname appeared 3,375 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 Pitzer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pitzer 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 Pitzer

The surname Pitzer originated in Germany, likely in the late Middle Ages or early modern period. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "pitz," which referred to a sharp point or peak, suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a pointed hill or mountain. Alternatively, it could also be related to the word "pitze," which meant a small piece or fragment, possibly indicating an occupation or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pitzer can be found in the Palatinate region of Germany, where a family by that name resided in the 16th century. In 1589, a certain Hans Pitzer was mentioned in a local church register in the town of Heidelberg. This suggests that the name had already been established in the area by that time.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Pitzer family spread across various parts of Germany, with some members settling in other regions such as Saxony and Franconia. Notable individuals from this period include Johannes Pitzer (1617-1693), a Lutheran minister who served in the town of Eisenach, and Anna Pitzer (1732-1801), a prominent landowner in the village of Kirchheim.

As German immigration to North America increased in the 19th century, the Pitzer surname began to appear in various parts of the United States and Canada. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Johann Pitzer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1808 from the Palatinate region of Germany. Another notable figure was William Pitzer (1844-1923), a successful businessman and philanthropist who established the Pitzer College in Claremont, California.

Other notable individuals with the Pitzer surname include:

1. John Pitzer (1813-1886), a pioneer settler and farmer in Ohio.
2. Charles Pitzer (1873-1943), an American baseball player and manager in the early 20th century.
3. Robert Pitzer (1912-1995), a renowned physicist and professor at Ohio State University.
4. Susan Pitzer (born 1966), an American actress and writer known for her work in television and film.
5. Michael Pitzer (born 1975), a German professional soccer player who played for several clubs in the Bundesliga.

While the Pitzer surname may have originated from a specific region or occupation in Germany, it has since become more widespread and can be found in various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and histories of families who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pitzer

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

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

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

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