2000
#135,837
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Theismann
Of German origin, meaning "self-disciplined" or "one who controls themselves."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 143 Americans carry the last name Theismann. That puts it at #138,300 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,396,883 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Theismann 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
143
1 in 2,396,883
Census rank
#138,300
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
125
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 125 bearers of the surname Theismann in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 138300th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Theismann, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.8%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Theismann
The surname Theismann originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in the area that is now modern-day Germany. It likely emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is believed to derive from the Old German word "deis," which means "fat" or "stout." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed as a descriptive nickname referring to a person's physical stature or appearance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Theismann can be found in the Heidelberg Tax Rolls from the late 15th century, where a certain Hanns Theismann is listed as a resident of the city. Additionally, the name appears in various church records and local archives from the 16th and 17th centuries across various German states and principalities.
In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the name Theismann was Johann Theismann (1618-1677), a German theologian and professor at the University of Giessen. He authored several works on theological subjects and played a significant role in the intellectual discourse of his time.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Friedrich Theismann (1741-1808), a German composer and organist who served as the court Kapellmeister in several German cities, including Bayreuth and Ansbach. His compositions, particularly his organ works, were highly regarded during his lifetime.
In the 19th century, Karl Theismann (1823-1901) was a German architect and urban planner who contributed to the design and development of several cities in Germany, including Berlin and Leipzig. His work helped shape the architectural landscape of these cities during a period of rapid urbanization.
Moving into the 20th century, Günter Theismann (1920-2003) was a German writer and poet who gained recognition for his lyrical works and contributions to the literary scene in post-war Germany. His poetry collections, such as "Aus dem Schweigen" (Out of the Silence), received critical acclaim and solidified his reputation as a influential voice in modern German literature.
It's worth noting that while the surname Theismann originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the Germanic regions, where it emerged as a descriptive name reflecting physical characteristics or perhaps a profession associated with a particular trade or craft.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Theismann
Among Census respondents with the surname Theismann, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.8%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Theismann 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 Theismann surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.0% · 110
- Hispanic or Latino4.8% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.4% · 3
- Two or more races2.4% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.6% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Theismann
Theismann 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
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+5 bearers (+4.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,320 places
2020
#138,300
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
+6 bearers (+5.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,857 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #135,837 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.4%) | Down 4,320 places |
| 2020 | #138,300 | 125 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.0%) | Up 1,857 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 Theismann 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 | #140,157 | #138,300 | 1.3% |
| Count | 119 | 125 | 5.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Theismann bearers went from 119 to 125 (+5.0% change). The surname moved up 1,857 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #138,300.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Theismann
FAQ
Theismann surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Theismann?
Name Census estimates that about 143 living Americans carry the surname Theismann. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,396,883 residents.
How common is Theismann?
Theismann ranks #138,300 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 125 people with the surname Theismann. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (143), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Theismann.
Has Theismann become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Theismann went from 119 recorded bearers to 125. That is an increase of 6 (+5.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #140,157 to #138,300.
What does the Census say about the background of Theismann?
Among Census respondents with the surname Theismann, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.8%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (2.4%). 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 Theismann in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.0% (110 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Theismann appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.0%), Hispanic (4.8%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.4%). 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 Theismann (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 Theismann mean?
Of German origin, meaning "self-disciplined" or "one who controls themselves." 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 Theismann (0.04 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 are called Theismann?
Want to know how many people have the last name Theismann? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.