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

Stelts, 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 Stelts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stelts in America

Stelts is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stelts surname appeared 108 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Stelts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stelts 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 Stelts

The surname Stelts is believed to have originated in Germany, likely in the 16th or 17th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Stelze," which means "stilts" or "wooden support." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone who made or used stilts as part of their trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stelts appears in the German town of Wittelshofen in the late 1600s. Church records from the region show a family with the surname Stelts residing in the area during this time period. It is possible that the name was also present in nearby villages or towns, as variations in spelling were common in those days.

In the 18th century, the name Stelts can be found in various German records and manuscripts. For example, a man named Johann Stelts is listed as a resident of the town of Darmstadt in the year 1743. Additionally, a farmer named Hans Stelts is mentioned in a land deed from the village of Taunusstein, dated 1781.

As the centuries progressed, some individuals bearing the surname Stelts gained recognition in various fields. In the late 19th century, a German artist named Wilhelm Stelts (1847-1923) became known for his landscape paintings and portraits. Another notable figure was Friedrich Stelts (1870-1942), a German engineer who contributed to the development of early automotive technologies.

Moving into the 20th century, the name Stelts continued to appear in historical records. One prominent individual was Otto Stelts (1892-1963), a German politician and member of the Nazi Party during World War II. On a different note, Hans Stelts (1915-1997) was a respected German architect who designed several notable buildings in his hometown of Cologne.

Another individual worth mentioning is Erich Stelts (1924-2004), a German soldier who served in World War II and later wrote a memoir detailing his experiences on the Eastern Front. His account provided valuable insights into the harsh realities of the conflict.

While the surname Stelts may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its German roots. The name has been carried by artists, engineers, politicians, and soldiers throughout the centuries, each leaving their mark on the world in their own unique way.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stelts

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

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

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

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