2000
#123,314
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Witschi
A surname of Swiss/German origin meaning someone from a wooded or forested place.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Witschi. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Witschi 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
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Witschi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Witschi, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Witschi
The surname Witschi originates from Switzerland, specifically from the German-speaking regions of the country. The earliest known usage of the name dates back to the late medieval period, around the 14th century. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "witzig," meaning clever or witty, reflecting perhaps a characteristic of the original bearers. Alternatively, it could derive from a geographical feature or a smaller settlement near which the original family lived.
Historical records trace the name Witschi back to the Berne Canton in Switzerland. The area was known for its rugged terrain and pastoral lifestyle, where many families adopted surnames that were descriptive of their traits or occupations. Early appearances of the name Witschi can be found in parish records and local legal documents from the 15th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is from a church registry in the village of Mühleberg dating back to 1432.
Over the centuries, the Witschi name spread throughout the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland. Variations in spelling, such as Witsch and Witsche, can be found in historic texts and documents, reflecting the lack of standardized spelling prior to the modern era. Manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries show the name appearing in civic records, often in the context of property transactions and local governance.
One notable individual bearing the surname was Jakob Witschi, born in 1670, who was a prominent figure in the town of Thun. He served as a council member and was known for his contributions to local education reforms. Another significant figure was Anna Witschi, born in 1735, who is remembered for her role in the potato cultivation movement that swept through Europe in the mid-18th century, significantly aiding local agriculture.
In the 19th century, Johann Witschi, born in 1802, was an influential industrialist who played a crucial role in the early industrialization of Zurich. His factories established some of the first textile manufacturing plants in the area, bringing economic growth and employment opportunities. In the realm of academia, Emil Witschi, born in 1890, made significant contributions to the field of zoology. His research on comparative anatomy earned him international recognition and several prestigious awards.
Another remarkable individual was Karl Witschi, born in 1865, who was an inventor with several patents to his name. His innovations in agricultural machinery transformed farming practices in the Swiss countryside. The impact of his work was seen for generations, solidifying the Witschi name in the annals of Swiss innovation and progress.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Witschi has maintained a presence in Swiss history, culture, and progress. The name carries with it a legacy of cleverness, industriousness, and innovation, reflecting the characteristics of the people who bore it.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Witschi
Among Census respondents with the surname Witschi, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Witschi 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 Witschi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2% · 114
- Hispanic or Latino3.3% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Witschi
Witschi 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
#130,610
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
+1 bearers (+0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,296 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
-9 bearers (-6.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,699 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #123,314 | 129 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #130,610 | 130 | 0.04 | +1 bearers (+0.8%) | Down 7,296 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | -9 bearers (-6.9%) | Down 10,699 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 Witschi 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 | #130,610 | #141,309 | -8.2% |
| Count | 130 | 121 | -6.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Witschi bearers went from 130 to 121 (-6.9% change). The surname moved down 10,699 positions in the national ranking, going from #130,610 to #141,309.
FAQ
Witschi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Witschi?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Witschi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Witschi?
Witschi ranks #141,309 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 121 people with the surname Witschi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), 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 Witschi.
Has Witschi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Witschi went from 130 recorded bearers to 121. That is a decrease of 9 (-6.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #130,610 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Witschi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Witschi, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). 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 Witschi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.2% (114 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Witschi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.2%), Hispanic (3.3%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.7%). 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 Witschi (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 Witschi mean?
A surname of Swiss/German origin meaning someone from a wooded or forested place. 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 Witschi (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 many people are called Witschi?
Find out how many people have the surname Witschi on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.