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

Rathjen, 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 Rathjen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rathjen in America

Rathjen is the 21348th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rathjen surname appeared 1,227 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 Rathjen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rathjen 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 Rathjen

The surname RATHJEN is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the northern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. It is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 15th or 16th century.

RATHJEN is derived from the Low German word "Rat," which means "council" or "advice," combined with the suffix "-jen," indicating a diminutive form. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone associated with a council or advisory body, perhaps a council member or an advisor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RATHJEN name can be found in the parish records of the town of Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein, dating back to the 17th century. Several individuals bearing the name RATHJEN were documented as residents of the town during this period.

In the 18th century, the RATHJEN name appeared in various historical records and documents from the region, often associated with professions related to local governance, such as town clerks or municipal officials. This further reinforces the connection between the name and its potential origin as a council or advisory role.

Notable individuals with the surname RATHJEN include Johann Hinrich Rathjen (1744-1818), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in the town of Schwabstedt, Schleswig-Holstein. Another prominent figure was Friedrich Rathjen (1809-1884), a German jurist and politician who played a significant role in the legal reforms of the Duchy of Holstein in the mid-19th century.

Other historical figures bearing the RATHJEN name include Wilhelm Rathjen (1834-1911), a German painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and genre scenes, and Heinrich Rathjen (1844-1925), a German teacher and author who published works on education and pedagogy.

The name RATHJEN can also be traced to specific place names in northern Germany, such as the village of Rathjen in the district of Dithmarschen, Schleswig-Holstein. It is possible that the surname originated from this particular location or a similar place name, reflecting the connection between surnames and geographical locations during that time period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rathjen

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

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

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

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