2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Twete
A variant form of the locational surname 'Tuite' from Touat, Algeria.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 116 Americans carry the last name Twete. That puts it at #155,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,954,779 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Twete 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
116
1 in 2,954,779
Census rank
#155,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
101
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 101 bearers of the surname Twete in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 155270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Twete, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Twete
The surname TWETE is of English origin, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "twiht," which referred to a clearing or an open space in a forest or woodland area. The name likely originated in areas of England where there were dense forests, such as the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TWETE appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Twiht," indicating its ancient roots.
In the 13th century, the surname began to take on various spellings, including Twete, Twhyte, and Twytte. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
One notable example of the surname TWETE can be found in the historical figure of Sir John Twete (c. 1330-1390), a prominent landowner and knight from Nottinghamshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in several military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War.
Another influential individual with the surname TWETE was William Twete (1576-1646), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Peterborough. He authored several theological works and was known for his expertise in biblical interpretation.
In the 16th century, the surname TWETE was also associated with the village of Twete (or Twhyte) in Derbyshire. The place name likely derived from the same Old English word as the surname, indicating a connection between the name and the geographical location.
Other notable individuals with the surname TWETE include Robert Twete (1621-1678), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Charles II, and Samuel Twete (1768-1832), a British naval officer who participated in several significant battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
Throughout its history, the surname TWETE has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties where it is believed to have originated. While the spelling and pronunciation may have evolved over time, the name's roots can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old English language.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Twete
Among Census respondents with the surname Twete, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Twete 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 Twete surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0% · 96
- Two or more races3.0% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Twete
Twete 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
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-5 bearers (-4.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 15,446 places
2020
#155,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
-2 bearers (-1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 1,964 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -5 bearers (-4.6%) | Down 15,446 places |
| 2020 | #155,270 | 101 | 0.03 | -2 bearers (-1.9%) | Up 1,964 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 Twete 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 | #157,234 | #155,270 | 1.2% |
| Count | 103 | 101 | -1.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 12.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Twete bearers went from 103 to 101 (-1.9% change). The surname moved up 1,964 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #155,270.
FAQ
Twete surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Twete?
Name Census estimates that about 116 living Americans carry the surname Twete. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,954,779 residents.
How common is Twete?
Twete ranks #155,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 101 people with the surname Twete. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (116), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Twete.
Has Twete become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Twete went from 103 recorded bearers to 101. That is a decrease of 2 (-1.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #155,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Twete?
Among Census respondents with the surname Twete, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%). 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 Twete in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Twete appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.0%), Two or More Races (3.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%). 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 Twete (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 Twete mean?
A variant form of the locational surname 'Tuite' from Touat, Algeria. 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 Twete (0.03 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 common is the surname Twete?
See how many people have the last name Twete on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.