Stetar last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Stetar

A variant of the German surname Stetler or Stettler relating to origins in a town of that name.

Stetar, 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 Stetar surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Stetar in America

Stetar is the 141788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stetar surname appeared 108 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Stetar.

The history of the last name Stetar

The surname Stetar has its roots in Eastern Europe, most likely originating from the Slavic regions. The name appears to have Bulgarian or Serbian origins, stemming from the old Slavic word "stet" or "steti," which means "to stand" or "be upright." This connotation of uprightness could denote a person of strong moral character or someone who holds a position of authority or respect within a community.

Stetar was first recorded in historical documents during the late medieval period, around the 14th and 15th centuries. Eastern European records, particularly in regions now encompassing Bulgaria and Serbia, show variations such as Stetarov or Stetarski, indicating a patronymic or occupational origin. Documents from the Serbian Despotate and the Bulgarian Empire during this period occasionally mention individuals bearing the surname, primarily in tax records and legal documents.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Stetar was Mihailo Stetar, a merchant based in Belgrade, recorded in the 1430s. His records were found in trading logs, which detailed extensive commercial activities between the Balkans and the Venetian Republic. Another early mention is that of a Milos Stetar, who served as a local magistrate in a Bulgarian town during the late 15th century. His name appears in judicial proceedings regarding land disputes, dated around 1485.

By the 17th century, records show a Severin Stetar involved in the political scene of the Principality of Transylvania. Severin's efforts were noted in correspondences between Transylvanian princes and the Ottoman Empire, where he played a role as an envoy. Born in 1610 and dying in 1675, Severin’s diplomatic contributions are well-documented in both Romanian and Hungarian archives.

Moving into the 18th century, the name appears in ecclesiastical records. Father Ivan Stetar, a notable figure in Serbian Orthodox circles, served as a priest and was instrumental in religious reforms under the Habsburg Monarchy. His birth is recorded in 1690, and he passed away in 1756. His works include notations on religious practices and community guidelines, which are preserved in monastery archives.

The 19th century introduces us to Anton Stetar, born in 1822, a revolutionary who participated in uprisings against the Ottoman rule in the Balkans. Anton’s activities are mentioned in military records and personal memoirs of fellow revolutionaries. He lived a tumultuous life until his death in 1870, remembered for his fervent patriotism and leadership.

Throughout history, the surname Stetar has been associated with leadership, trade, and religious reform, reflecting a lineage of influential and upright individuals. The variations in spelling and geographical distribution underscore the mobility and adaptability of families bearing this name across centuries and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stetar

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Stetar was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.22% 105
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Stetar last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/stetar-surname-popularity/.

"Stetar last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/stetar-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

Stetar last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/stetar-surname-popularity/.

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