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

Witz, 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 Witz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Witz in America

Witz is the 27514th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Witz surname appeared 876 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 Witz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Witz 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 Witz

The surname Witz has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe and is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, roughly between the 12th and 14th centuries. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "witzen," which means "to be witty" or "to joke." This suggests that the name was likely a nickname for someone known for their wit or humor.

Historically, the surname Witz appears in early German documents and records. One of the earliest known mentions is found in a medieval manuscript from the 13th century in the Bavarian region of Germany. Over time, the spelling and usage of the name have varied slightly, suggesting that it might have had different forms depending on the local dialects and orthographic conventions.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Johannes Witz, who lived in the late 14th century in the city of Nuremberg, Germany. Johannes Witz was a respected member of the local merchant guild, and several historical records from the period mention his participation in trade and civic matters.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Conrad Witz, a renowned German-Swiss painter born around 1400 and who died in 1446. Conrad Witz is celebrated for his pioneering contributions to Northern Renaissance art, and his works are still studied and admired for their detailed landscapes and realistic portrayal of human figures.

In the 16th century, the Witz name appears again with Johann Witz, a Lutheran clergyman recorded in church records from Augsburg, Germany. Johann Witz was known for his sermons and contributions to the spread of Lutheranism in southern Germany during a time of significant religious upheaval.

Moving into the 17th century, Matthias Witz, a botanist from Zurich, Switzerland, gained repute for his contributions to early botanical classification and studies. Matthias, born in 1632 and passing in 1687, published several treatises that were highly regarded in academic circles of his time.

Another figure of note is Hans Witz, an officer in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Hans Witz, born in 1597 and died in 1654, was known for his strategic acumen and played a significant role in several key battles of the conflict.

Throughout history, the surname Witz has maintained its association with individuals known for their intellect, creativity, and wit. This legacy continues to highlight the historical and cultural significance of the name within German-speaking regions and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Witz

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

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

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

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