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

Utke, 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 Utke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Utke in America

Utke is the 53538th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Utke surname appeared 386 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Utke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Utke 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 Utke

The surname Utke has its origins in northern Germany, with records indicating its use as early as the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Low German word "udde," meaning "headland" or "promontory," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent geographical feature or a specific location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Utke can be found in the 1438 Lübeck City Registry, where a certain Claus Utke is mentioned as a resident. This document provides a glimpse into the name's historical roots and its association with the city of Lübeck, a prominent Hanseatic League trading hub in northern Germany.

During the 16th century, the Utke surname gained further recognition when Hans Utke, a prominent merchant and trader, established a successful business enterprise in the city of Hamburg. Born in 1524, Hans Utke's commercial ventures contributed to the economic prosperity of the region and helped solidify the family's reputation.

In the 17th century, the name Utke appeared in various historical records across northern Germany, including the 1672 census of the town of Rostock, where several families with this surname were documented. Additionally, a notable figure from this era was Johann Utke, a respected scholar and theologian born in 1638 in the city of Lübeck.

As the Utke family expanded and migrated across different regions, the name underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Utken, Utkens, or Utker. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and local scribes' interpretations of the name.

One notable individual bearing the Utke surname was Friedrich Utke, a renowned German author and poet born in 1787 in the town of Schwerin. His literary works, which explored themes of nature and romanticism, earned him widespread acclaim during his lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated today.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, individuals with the surname Utke made significant contributions in various fields. For instance, Karl Utke, born in 1845 in Hamburg, was a pioneering architect who designed several iconic buildings that still stand as landmarks in German cities.

It is important to note that while the surname Utke has its roots in northern Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the Low German regions of northern Germany, where it first emerged as a distinct surname several centuries ago.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Utke

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

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

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

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