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

Teter, 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 Teter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Teter in America

Teter is the 8195th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Teter surname appeared 4,050 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 Teter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Teter 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 Teter

The surname Teter has its origins in Germany, where it first appeared in the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "tetern," which means "to stammer" or "to stutter." The name likely referred to someone who had a speech impediment or who spoke with a stutter.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Tetter" or "Teter" in various regions of Germany. It was particularly common in the areas of Saxony, Bavaria, and Württemberg. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town records of Heilbronn, Württemberg, from the year 1572, where a certain Hans Tetter is mentioned.

The Teter surname gained wider recognition in the 17th century, when a notable figure named Johann Teter (1620-1692) rose to prominence as a respected theologian and author in Nuremberg. His works on religious philosophy and biblical interpretation were widely read and influential during his time.

Another notable figure bearing the Teter name was Christoph Teter (1673-1741), a German composer and organist. He was born in Nuremberg and is remembered for his contributions to the development of the Baroque music style in Germany.

As the name spread across Europe, it also found its way to other countries, including England and the Netherlands. In England, the earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1635, when a certain William Teter was listed in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London.

In the Netherlands, the name was sometimes spelled as "Teeters" or "Teeteren." One notable Dutch individual with this surname was Pieter Teeters (1765-1842), a merchant and shipowner from Amsterdam who played a significant role in the city's thriving maritime trade during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Over the centuries, the Teter surname has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, from academics and clergy to merchants and artisans. Some other notable individuals with this last name include:

1. Heinrich Teter (1802-1878), a German painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes.
2. Anna Teter (1845-1921), an American educator and women's rights activist from Ohio.
3. Franz Teter (1867-1932), an Austrian architect who designed several notable buildings in Vienna.
4. Gerhard Teter (1910-1992), a German scientist and pioneer in the field of nuclear physics.
5. Edith Teter (1928-2017), an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on social and political issues.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Teter

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

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

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

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