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

Vatter, 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 Vatter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Vatter in America

Vatter is the 35537th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Vatter surname appeared 633 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 Vatter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Vatter 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 Vatter

The surname Vatter is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "fatar," meaning "father" or "ancestor." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for the head of a household or a patriarch.

In the early historical records, the name appears in various spellings such as "Fatter," "Vater," and "Vetter." One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Codex Traditionum Corbeiensium, a medieval manuscript from the 9th century, which mentions an individual named "Fathar."

The Vatter surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Johannes Vatter, a German printer and publisher who lived in the 15th century. He is known for publishing works by prominent scholars and humanists of his time.

Another significant figure with the Vatter surname was Christoph Vatter, a German astronomer and mathematician born in 1591. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with developing a method for calculating the orbits of comets.

In the realm of literature, Johann Vatter, born in 1598, was a German poet and writer known for his religious and didactic works. His poems and writings were widely read and appreciated during his time.

The Vatter name has also been associated with military figures. One such example is Johann Vatter, a German officer who served in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). He is noted for his bravery and tactical skills on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, Carl Vatter, born in 1839, was a prominent German architect. He designed several notable buildings, including churches and public structures, in various parts of Germany.

While the Vatter surname originated in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and the world through migration and settlement patterns. However, its earliest roots and historical significance remain firmly grounded in the German language and culture, reflecting the rich heritage and lineage of this family name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Vatter

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

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

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

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