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

Rittenhouse, 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 Rittenhouse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rittenhouse in America

Rittenhouse is the 6339th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rittenhouse surname appeared 5,378 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Rittenhouse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rittenhouse 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 Rittenhouse

The surname Rittenhouse has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German words "Ritter" meaning "knight" and "Haus" meaning "house", indicating that the original bearers of this name were likely associated with a knight's household or resided in a structure owned by a knight.

The earliest recorded instances of the Rittenhouse surname date back to the 13th century, appearing in various medieval documents and records from German-speaking regions. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Rittenhouse, a landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Rittershausen, near Mainz, in the late 1200s.

In the 16th century, the Rittenhouse name appeared in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a family of that name was involved in the metalworking trade. One notable member of this family was Hans Rittenhouse, a master goldsmith and engraver who created intricate works of art for the city's wealthy patrons in the mid-1500s.

The Rittenhouse surname eventually spread beyond Germany, with some families migrating to other parts of Europe and later to the American colonies. One of the most famous bearers of the name was David Rittenhouse (1732-1796), an American astronomer, inventor, and mathematician who was born in Pennsylvania. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was instrumental in the construction of the first telescope in the United States.

Another notable individual with the Rittenhouse surname was William Rittenhouse (1644-1708), a Quaker who emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the late 17th century. He founded the settlement of Germantown, which later became part of Philadelphia, and played a crucial role in the early development of the colony.

In the 19th century, the Rittenhouse name was associated with several individuals who made their mark in various fields. One such figure was Isaac Rittenhouse (1793-1858), a prominent lawyer and politician from New York who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Throughout its history, the Rittenhouse surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience and achievement. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscapes of various nations and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rittenhouse

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

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

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

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