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

Sweitzer, 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 Sweitzer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sweitzer in America

Sweitzer is the 7909th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sweitzer surname appeared 4,183 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Sweitzer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sweitzer 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 Sweitzer

The surname "Sweitzer" originated in Switzerland, deriving from the German word "Schweizer," meaning "Swiss." This surname emerged during the Middle Ages, a period when it became common practice to adopt hereditary surnames derived from one's place of origin, occupation, or physical characteristics.

The name first appeared in various forms, such as "Schweitzer," "Schweizer," and "Schwytzer," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. These variations often corresponded to specific areas within Switzerland, with the name being particularly prevalent in regions like Zürich and Bern.

Historically, the surname "Sweitzer" can be traced back to the 13th century, as evidenced by its appearance in various medieval records and chronicles. One notable example is the mention of a certain "Heinricus Sweitzer" in the Annals of the City of Zürich, dated 1287.

Among the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was Johannes Sweitzer (c. 1390-1457), a Swiss theologian and professor at the University of Basel. Another notable figure was Ulrich Sweitzer (1487-1538), a Swiss Protestant Reformer and one of the co-founders of the Anabaptist movement.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Salomon Sweitzer (1552-1624), a renowned Swiss cartographer and engraver responsible for creating some of the most detailed and accurate maps of his time.

During the 17th century, the name "Sweitzer" appeared in various genealogical records and parish registers across Switzerland, indicating its widespread use among Swiss families.

One notable individual from this period was Johann Sweitzer (1624-1690), a Swiss physician and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life and authored several influential works on the subject.

In the 18th century, the name gained international recognition with the birth of Johann Caspar Sweitzer (1742-1824), a Swiss-born soldier and military engineer who served in the American Revolutionary War and played a crucial role in the defense of West Point.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "Sweitzer" continued to be associated with notable figures, such as the 19th-century Swiss theologian and philosopher Alexander Sweitzer (1808-1888) and the 20th-century Swiss architect and urban planner Max Sweitzer (1892-1962).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sweitzer

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

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

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

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