Seiter
Derived from the Middle High German word "seitaere," referring to a rope maker or cord maker.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,296 Americans carry the last name Seiter. That puts it at #14,902 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.67 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 149,283 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Seiter 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
2.3K
1 in 149,283
Census rank
#14,902
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,986 bearers of the surname Seiter in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14902nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Seiter, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Seiter
The surname SEITER has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Seiter," which means "one who makes rope or cord." This indicates that the name likely originated from an occupation or trade involving the production of ropes or cords.
The earliest recorded instances of the SEITER surname can be traced back to the 14th century. One notable mention is in the Nuremberg tax records of 1387, where a Hans Seiter is listed as a resident. This suggests that the name was already established in the region at that time.
During the 15th century, the SEITER name appeared in various historical documents across German-speaking regions. For example, in 1452, a Johannes Seiter was recorded as living in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in Bavaria.
As the centuries passed, the SEITER name spread to other parts of Europe, particularly through migration and trade. In the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing this surname was Christoph Seiter (1528-1594), a German Protestant theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable bearer of the SEITER name was Johann Seiter (1630-1705), a German composer and organist who lived in Nuremberg. His works contributed to the rich musical tradition of the Baroque era.
In the 18th century, the SEITER surname can be found in various place names across Germany, such as Seiterdorf (a village in Bavaria) and Seitersbrunnen (a spring in Saxony). These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the SEITER surname who settled in those areas.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SEITER name in the United States dates back to the late 18th century, when Johann Georg Seiter (1753-1831) emigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. He became a prominent figure in the German-American community and played a role in the establishment of the German Lutheran Church in America.
As the centuries progressed, the SEITER surname continued to be represented across various fields, including academia, arts, and politics. Noteworthy individuals include Friedrich Seiter (1801-1877), a German philosopher and educator, and Max Seiter (1857-1938), a German architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Berlin.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Seiter
Among Census respondents with the surname Seiter, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Seiter 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 Seiter surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.1%
- Hispanic or Latino1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Two or more races0.5%
- Black or African American0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Seiter 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,902 | #14,902 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,986 | 1,986 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.67 | 0.67 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Seiter bearers went from 1,986 to 1,986 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #14,902 to #14,902.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Seiter
FAQ
Seiter surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Seiter?
The surname Seiter holds position #14,902 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,296 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.67 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Seiter surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Seiter, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%). 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.