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

Wittwer, 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 Wittwer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wittwer in America

Wittwer is the 19441st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wittwer surname appeared 1,390 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 Wittwer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wittwer 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 Wittwer

The surname Wittwer has its origins in Switzerland, specifically in the German-speaking regions. It can be traced back to the medieval period, with the earliest recorded instances appearing in the 13th and 14th centuries. The name is derived from the Old High German word "witu," meaning "wood" or "forest," and "war," which stands for "protector" or "guardian." Thus, Wittwer can be roughly translated to mean "guardian of the forest."

The surname is found predominantly in the Swiss cantons of Bern and Zurich. Old manuscripts and records from these regions often mention families with the Wittwer name. One of the earliest references occurs in tax records from Bern in the 14th century. Over time, the name spread to neighboring areas and evolved slightly in spelling variations such as Wittwer, Wittwehr, and Wittwerh.

Among the notable historical figures with this surname is Jakob Wittwer, a Swiss theologian born in 1716 who contributed significantly to religious studies in the 18th century. Another early bearer of the name was Hans Wittwer, a prominent architect and Bauhaus teacher born in 1894, known for his role in modernist architectural movements. Samuel Wittwer, born in 1695, was a respected merchant known for his extensive trade networks in Europe.

Franz Wittwer, a Swiss painter born in 1832, gained recognition for his landscape paintings that depicted the scenic beauty of Switzerland. Johann Georg Wittwer, a naturalist from the late 18th century, made significant contributions to the study of Alpine flora and fauna.

Throughout history, the Wittwer name has been associated with various professions, ranging from merchants and theologians to artists and scientists. The historical footprint of the Wittwer name is rich with cultural and professional diversity, reflecting the dynamic contributions made by individuals bearing this surname over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wittwer

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

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

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

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