Roethlisberger
A German surname likely meaning "resident of Reutlingen" or "from Röthleinsberg".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 377 Americans carry the last name Roethlisberger. That puts it at #63,524 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 909,163 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Roethlisberger surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
377
1 in 909,163
Census rank
#63,524
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
314
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 314 bearers of the surname Roethlisberger in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 63524th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Roethlisberger, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.5%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Roethlisberger
The surname Roethlisberger has its origins in Switzerland, specifically in the German-speaking regions of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th or 17th century. The name is derived from the Swiss German words "Roetli" meaning "small red" and "Berger" meaning "one from the hills or mountains." This suggests that the surname may have initially referred to a person from a small, red-colored settlement nestled in the Swiss Alps.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Roethlisberger can be found in a Swiss parish register from the year 1618, where a certain Johannes Roethlisberger is listed as a resident of the town of Langnau im Emmental, located in the canton of Bern. This provides evidence that the name was already established in the region by the early 17th century.
In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Roethlisberger was Johann Jakob Roethlisberger (1808-1859), a Swiss theologian and writer who authored several works on religious topics. He was born in the town of Herzogenbuchsee, also in the canton of Bern.
Another historical figure was the Swiss mathematician and physicist Eduard Roethlisberger (1808-1892), who made significant contributions to the field of numerical analysis. He was born in the town of Herzogenbuchsee as well and worked as a professor at the University of Bern.
The name Roethlisberger also appears in historical records from neighboring regions of Switzerland, such as the canton of Lucerne. In the 18th century, a certain Johann Roethlisberger (1720-1790) was a prominent businessman and landowner in the town of Entlebuch, located in Lucerne.
A more recent figure was the Swiss painter and sculptor Arnold Roethlisberger (1908-1986), who was born in the town of Langnau im Emmental and is known for his expressionist works depicting rural life in Switzerland.
It is worth noting that variations in the spelling of the surname exist, such as Röthlisberger, Roethlisberger, and Röthlisburger, reflecting the different dialects and regional variations in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland where the name originated.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Roethlisberger
Among Census respondents with the surname Roethlisberger, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.5%.
The bar chart below shows how Roethlisberger bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Roethlisberger surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.5%
- Unknown or suppressed2.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Roethlisberger surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #62,961 | #63,524 | -0.9% |
| Count | 297 | 314 | 5.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Roethlisberger bearers went from 297 to 314 (+5.7% change). The surname moved down 563 positions in the national ranking, going from #62,961 to #63,524.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Roethlisberger
FAQ
Roethlisberger surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Roethlisberger?
The surname Roethlisberger holds position #63,524 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 377 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Roethlisberger surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Roethlisberger, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.5%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.