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

Ritenour, 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 Ritenour surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ritenour in America

Ritenour is the 11537th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ritenour surname appeared 2,726 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 Ritenour.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ritenour 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 Ritenour

The surname Ritenour has its origins in the German language, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. It is believed to have derived from the German words "Ritter" meaning "knight" and "Hauer" meaning "hewer" or "woodcutter," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals who worked as foresters or woodcutters in the service of knights or nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ritenour can be found in the German church records from the town of Amberg, Bavaria, dating back to the late 1500s. The name appears to have been widely used in the surrounding regions of Franconia and Swabia, with variations in spelling such as Rittnauer, Rittenhauer, and Rittner.

In the 17th century, the name Ritenour began to appear in various historical records across Europe, including the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), where several individuals bearing the name were documented as soldiers and mercenaries. Notably, Johann Ritenour, born in 1625 in Nuremberg, served as a cavalry officer during the latter stages of the war.

As the Ritenour family spread throughout Europe, some members eventually settled in the American colonies in the early 18th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in North America is Jacob Ritenour, who arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany in 1732.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Ritenour. Johann Michael Ritenour (1730-1802), a German-born artist and engraver, was renowned for his intricate engravings of landscapes and architectural works. William Ritenour (1770-1854), an American frontiersman and explorer, played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States, participating in several expeditions and establishing settlements in the Ohio Valley region.

Other prominent figures include Anna Ritenour (1855-1932), a prominent American educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded several schools and institutions focused on advancing educational opportunities for women. John Ritenour (1891-1969), an American businessman and philanthropist, made significant contributions to various charitable organizations and institutions.

The Ritenour surname has also been associated with several place names, particularly in the United States, such as Ritenour, Pennsylvania, and Ritenour School District in St. Louis, Missouri, further solidifying its historical significance and connection to specific geographical locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ritenour

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

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

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

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