2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Sitterle
A surname derived from German meaning a small farm or peasant settlement.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 114 Americans carry the last name Sitterle. That puts it at #156,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,006,617 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sitterle surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
114
1 in 3,006,617
Census rank
#156,005
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
99
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 99 bearers of the surname Sitterle in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sitterle, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sitterle
The surname SITTERLE is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, specifically in the town of Sittert, which provided the foundation for the name's etymology. The initial form was likely "Sitterer," referring to individuals hailing from Sittert.
One of the earliest known references to the SITTERLE surname can be found in the "Bavarian Urbarium," a historical record dating back to 1348. This document mentions a certain "Heinrich Sitterer," indicating the name's presence in that region during the Middle Ages.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Sitterer, Sitterer, Sittler, and ultimately, SITTERLE. These changes were common in the era before standardized spelling conventions, with regional dialects and scribal interpretations contributing to the variations.
Notably, the SITTERLE surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Johann Georg Sitterle (1708-1779), a German theologian and author who served as a pastor in Herrenberg, Württemberg. His works on religious subjects were widely read during his time.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Karl Sitterle (1872-1942), a German architect renowned for his contributions to the Modernist movement in architecture. His designs, characterized by clean lines and functional aesthetics, can be found in various buildings throughout Germany.
In the realm of literature, the name SITTERLE is associated with the American author and poet, Martha Sitterle (1924-2013). Born in Ohio, she gained recognition for her poetic works that explored themes of nature, relationships, and the human experience.
Moving across the Atlantic, the SITTERLE surname also has a presence in France, where Pierre Sitterle (1891-1964) was a notable figure in the field of education. He served as a teacher and later became an inspector for the French Ministry of Education, advocating for educational reforms.
Additionally, the SITTERLE name has been recorded in Austria, with one notable example being Johann Sitterle (1808-1868), a renowned Austrian painter and engraver. His works, primarily focused on landscapes and scenes from rural life, were highly regarded during the 19th century.
While these are just a few examples, the SITTERLE surname has left its mark on various aspects of history, spanning different regions and disciplines. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage and the diverse narratives woven into the fabric of surnames.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sitterle
Among Census respondents with the surname Sitterle, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Sitterle bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Sitterle surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.9% · 85
- Hispanic or Latino9.1% · 9
- Two or more races5.1% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Sitterle
Sitterle appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-5 bearers (-4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,749 places
2020
#156,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 99
-9 bearers (-8.3%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 4,473 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.4%) | Down 14,749 places |
| 2020 | #156,005 | 99 | 0.03 | -9 bearers (-8.3%) | Down 4,473 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Sitterle surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #156,005 | -3.0% |
| Count | 108 | 99 | -8.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -17.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Sitterle bearers went from 108 to 99 (-8.3% change). The surname moved down 4,473 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #156,005.
FAQ
Sitterle surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Sitterle?
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the surname Sitterle. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,006,617 residents.
How common is Sitterle?
Sitterle ranks #156,005 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 99 people with the surname Sitterle. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (114), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Sitterle.
Has Sitterle become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Sitterle went from 108 recorded bearers to 99. That is a decrease of 9 (-8.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #151,532 to #156,005.
What does the Census say about the background of Sitterle?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sitterle, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (5.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Sitterle in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.9% (85 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Sitterle appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.9%), Hispanic (9.1%), Two or More Races (5.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Sitterle (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Sitterle mean?
A surname derived from German meaning a small farm or peasant settlement. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Sitterle (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Sitterle?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.