2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Witalis
An Americanized spelling of a Polish surname derived from the personal name Witalij meaning "life-giving".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Witalis. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Witalis 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
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Witalis in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Witalis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Black (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Witalis
The surname Witalis originates from Poland and can trace its roots back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Latin name Vitalis, which means "of life" or "vital." The Latin origins connect to early Christian traditions where the name Vitalis was common among saints and early Christians, representing vitality and life-giving.
Witalis was likely first used as a surname in Poland among Christian communities, reflecting the influence of Latin on Polish names after the Christianization of Poland in the 10th century. The surname Witalis likely appears in medieval records and church registers, typical for surnames originating in this period.
The earliest recorded use of Witalis in historical records can be traced back to the 14th century. For instance, a medieval manuscript from 1350 mentions a nobleman named Jan Witalis who owned land in the Mazovia region. This is an early indication that the name was associated with the Polish nobility and landownership.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Stanisław Witalis appears in records as a scholar and priest known for his contributions to religious education in Kraków. Stanisław Witalis, born in 1525, played a key role in the Counter-Reformation efforts in Poland before his death in 1586.
During the 17th century, the name continued to appear among notable individuals. One significant figure was Kazimierz Witalis, a military officer born in 1645 who served under King John III Sobieski during the wars against the Ottoman Empire. Kazimierz Witalis' military prowess earned him recognition until his death in 1691.
In the 18th century, records show another influential person named Elżbieta Witalis, born in 1720. Elżbieta was known for her charitable work and contributions to the community in Warsaw, particularly in orphanages and hospitals. Her philanthropic efforts were documented until her death in 1784.
Throughout the 19th century, the surname continued to be shared by individuals making their mark in various fields. One such individual was Antoni Witalis, a lawyer and political activist born in 1801. Antoni was involved in the November Uprising of 1830 against the Russian Empire, and his legacy continued through his writings until his death in 1856.
Exploring the etymology, history, and historical references associated with the surname Witalis uncovers a rich tapestry of individuals who contributed significantly to Polish history and culture from the medieval period well into the modern era.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Witalis
Among Census respondents with the surname Witalis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Black (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Witalis 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 Witalis surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.6% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Witalis
Witalis 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
#143,149
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+8 bearers (+7.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,361 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-5 bearers (-4.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,516 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 | #143,149 | 116 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.4%) | Down 1,361 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.3%) | Down 5,516 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 Witalis 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 | #143,149 | #148,665 | -3.9% |
| Count | 116 | 111 | -4.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Witalis bearers went from 116 to 111 (-4.3% change). The surname moved down 5,516 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,149 to #148,665.
FAQ
Witalis surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Witalis?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Witalis. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Witalis?
Witalis ranks #148,665 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 111 people with the surname Witalis. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), 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 Witalis.
Has Witalis become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Witalis went from 116 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #143,149 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Witalis?
Among Census respondents with the surname Witalis, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.8%) and Black (0.9%). 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 Witalis in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.6% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Witalis appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.6%), Hispanic (1.8%), Black (0.9%). 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 Witalis (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 Witalis mean?
An Americanized spelling of a Polish surname derived from the personal name Witalij meaning "life-giving". 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 Witalis (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 common is the surname Witalis?
If you just want to know how many Americans have the surname Witalis, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.