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

Witkus, 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 Witkus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Witkus in America

Witkus is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Witkus surname appeared 240 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 Witkus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Witkus 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 Witkus

The surname Witkus originates from Eastern Europe, with strong ties to areas that are now modern-day Lithuania and Poland. The name appears to have derived from Lithuanian roots, specifically from the name Vytautas, a popular given name in Lithuania that means "ruler of the people" or "to lead the people." This connection suggests that the surname could have initially been patronymic, derived from the given name of a significant ancestor.

In historical records, variations of the surname Witkus can be traced back to the medieval period. Manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries reflect the sociopolitical changes in the Lithuanian-Polish regions; during this era, the surname began appearing in various forms, such as Vitkus or Witek, depending on the local dialect and phonetic transcription practices.

One early recorded instance of the surname Witkus is found in a 1578 tax record from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, identifying a landowner named Jonas Witkus. This record suggests that the Witkus family held a certain level of social standing and possibly owned lands.

The name also appears in historical military records. During the 17th century, a soldier named Aleksej Witkus served in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army. His service is documented in military rosters from the early 1600s, indicating the surname's presence within the military elite.

Another notable historical figure is Mikalojus Witkus, a Lithuanian priest born in 1755, who played a role in the educational reforms in Lithuania during the late 18th century. His contributions to the education system are documented in ecclesiastical records, adding a scholastic dimension to the history of the name.

By the 19th century, the name Witkus can be found in immigration records, particularly those of Lithuanian immigrants to the United States. A prominent example is Kazimieras Witkus, born in 1832, who emigrated to the United States in the 1860s and became a significant figure in the Lithuanian-American community, contributing to the establishment of cultural societies and churches.

In the 20th century, the surname becomes prominent in academic circles with figures like Dr. Antanas Witkus, born in 1898, a renowned biologist whose research in entomology gained international recognition. His publications from the 1930s and 1940s remain cited in scientific literature.

Through various historical periods, the surname Witkus reflects a rich tapestry of cultural and social evolution, signifying roles in landownership, military service, education, emigration, and scientific achievement. The etymological roots and historical presence across different eras highlight the persistence and adaptation of the name through generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Witkus

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

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

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

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