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

Wittmann, 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 Wittmann surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wittmann in America

Wittmann is the 17992nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wittmann surname appeared 1,552 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 Wittmann.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wittmann 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 Wittmann

The surname Wittmann has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. The name is especially common in the regions of Bavaria and Austria. Wittmann is derived from the Middle High German words "witu," meaning "wood" or "forest," and "man," meaning "man." Therefore, Wittmann could be interpreted as "man of the forest" or "woodsman."

One of the earliest records of the surname Wittmann appears in the forms of various historical documents, including land records and church registers from the 13th century. Variations of the name such as Widemann, Widman, and Vitman have been found in these early manuscripts. These variations indicate the name's adaptation to different dialects and regions.

A notable early reference includes an individual named Hans Wittmann, recorded in the year 1476 as a landholder in Bavaria. Another historical mention comes from the 16th century, where a Johannes Wittmann was noted in church documents from Nuremberg, dating back to 1562.

One of the most well-known bearers of the surname is Otto Wittmann (1911-2001), an influential American museum director of German descent. Otto's career spanned several decades and was marked by his work in enriching cultural institutions. Another notable individual is Michael Wittmann (1914-1944), a celebrated German tank commander during World War II, renowned for his military tactics and numerous battlefield successes.

Also significant is Max Wittmann (1853-1925), an Austrian scholar who contributed to classical studies, particularly focusing on ancient Greek literature. His academic work remains cited in various scholarly articles and texts. Meanwhile, in the realm of arts, Elisabeth Wittmann, an 18th-century German painter, is remembered for her contributions to Baroque painting, with several of her works still displayed in European museums.

The surname Wittmann has also been found in relation to place names, such as Wittmannsdorf, a small village in today's Austria. Over centuries, the bearers of this surname have contributed to various fields, making significant impacts in history, culture, and academia. These early records and notable individuals highlight the rich lineage and cultural heritage associated with the Wittmann surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wittmann

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

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

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

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