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

Votaw, 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 Votaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Votaw in America

Votaw is the 16582nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Votaw surname appeared 1,730 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 Votaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Votaw 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 Votaw

The surname Votaw originated in Germany and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "vott," which meant "a vessel or container." The name likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the making or selling of vessels or containers.

One of the earliest known records of the name Votaw can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the 12th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Vottaw," "Vottawe," and "Vottau," suggesting its evolving form over time.

In the 14th century, a prominent individual named Johann Votaw was recorded in the town of Heidelberg, Germany. He was a respected craftsman known for his intricate woodcarvings and is believed to have contributed to the construction of the famous Heidelberg Castle.

During the 16th century, the Votaw family gained prominence in the region of Bavaria, where they owned several vineyards and were involved in the wine trade. One notable member of the family was Hans Votaw (1525-1589), who was a successful merchant and served as a councilman in the city of Nuremberg.

As the Votaw family spread throughout Germany and neighboring regions, the name underwent various spelling variations, including "Vottau," "Vottow," and "Fotaw." In the 18th century, a branch of the family migrated to the United States, where the surname was eventually standardized as "Votaw."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Votaw surname. These include Johann Votaw (1789-1868), a German philosopher and writer who published works on ethics and morality. Another prominent figure was Wilhelm Votaw (1832-1901), a German-American engineer who made significant contributions to the design of early steam engines.

In the field of academia, one notable figure was Clyde Votaw (1892-1974), an American biblical scholar and professor at the University of Chicago. He was renowned for his research on the New Testament and published several influential works on the subject.

While the Votaw surname may have evolved over time and across different regions, its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, where it was likely associated with the trade of vessel-making or a related occupation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Votaw

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

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

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

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