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

Reetz, 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 Reetz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Reetz in America

Reetz is the 15418th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Reetz surname appeared 1,900 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 Reetz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Reetz 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 Reetz

The surname Reetz originated in Germany, specifically in the state of Brandenburg. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "ret," meaning "reed," which suggests that the name may have been an occupational name for someone who worked with reeds or lived near a reed-filled area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Reetz dates back to the 13th century, with references found in medieval records from the region. One notable example is a mention of a landowner named Henricus Reetz in a document from 1267, relating to a property transaction in the village of Retzow, near Potsdam.

In the 14th century, the name Reetz appeared in various forms, such as Retz, Retze, and Retzke, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. During this period, the name was also associated with several place names in Brandenburg, including Retzow, Retzau, and Retzien.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Reetz was Johann Reetz (1570-1638), a Lutheran theologian and author from Neuruppin, Brandenburg. He authored several theological works and served as a pastor in various churches throughout the region.

Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Reetz (1799-1868), a German painter and engraver from Berlin. He is known for his intricate engravings and etchings depicting landscapes and architectural scenes from around Europe.

In the 19th century, the Reetz family gained prominence in the field of agriculture and land ownership. Ernst Reetz (1818-1892), a landowner and farmer from Neuruppin, was instrumental in the development of modern farming techniques and agricultural practices in the region.

Another noteworthy individual was Emilie Reetz (1863-1927), a German educator and women's rights activist. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to promoting education and equal opportunities for women in Germany.

The surname Reetz also found its way into literature, with the writer and poet Max Reetz (1876-1954) gaining recognition for his works exploring themes of nature, love, and the human condition.

Despite its German origins, the surname Reetz has spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in different regions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Reetz

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

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

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

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