2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Witzigman
A surname of German origin meaning "witty" or "funny man".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Witzigman. 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 Witzigman 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 Witzigman 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 Witzigman, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.8%) and Hispanic (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Witzigman
The surname Witzigman has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, primarily in Germany. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries, a time when surnames became more common as populations grew and the need for distinct identifiers increased. The name likely originated from the compound of the German words "witzig," meaning witty or clever, and "man," meaning man. Together, Witzigman could be interpreted as "witty man" or "clever man," potentially describing an ancestor who was known for his intelligence or sharp sense of humor.
The regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany are considered key areas where the name Witzigman may have originated, given the prevalence of similar sounding surnames and the linguistic roots in these areas. Historical records from these regions sometimes include variations of the name, such as Witzigmann or Witzingman, which indicate a familial or geographical link.
The name Witzigman has appeared in various historical documents over the centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances dates back to a 14th-century Bavarian court record that mentions a Hans Witzigman, who was involved in a local dispute. The documentation of surnames in court records, land deeds, and ecclesiastical registers during this period helps trace the lineage and geographical spread of the Witzigman family name.
Another notable historical reference to the name is found in the archives of Nuremberg from the mid-16th century, where a Heinrich Witzigman is recorded as a master craftsman in the city guild. This mention illustrates the family's integration into the urban fabric and their involvement in trades and professional activities.
The Witzigman surname continued to appear in various other records through the centuries. In the early 18th century, Johannes Witzigman is noted as a respected merchant and public figure in the town of Augsburg. His contributions to the local economy and community were well-documented, reflecting the family's ongoing prominence.
By the 19th century, the name had spread beyond Germany as families emigrated. One such individual was Karl Witzigman, who was born in 1821 and settled in the United States during the mid-1800s. His settlement in America illustrates the broader diaspora of people with the surname Witzigman, influenced by economic opportunities and sociopolitical changes in Europe.
Perhaps the most famous bearer of the surname is the contemporary German chef, Eckart Witzigmann. Born in 1941, Eckart is widely regarded as one of the world's best chefs and was awarded three Michelin stars. His work has significantly impacted culinary arts, highlighting the modern-day prominence of the Witzigman name.
In summary, the Witzigman surname has a rich history rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with its origins traced back to the medieval period. Early instances of the name appear in Bavarian and Nuremberg records, with notable individuals such as Hans Witzigman and Heinrich Witzigman contributing to its legacy. The name has spread globally, with descendants such as Karl Witzigman emigrating to the United States, and famous figures like Eckart Witzigman bringing contemporary recognition to the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Witzigman
Among Census respondents with the surname Witzigman, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.8%) and Hispanic (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Witzigman 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 Witzigman surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.4% · 107
- Two or more races5.8% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino4.1% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Witzigman
Witzigman 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
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+7 bearers (+6.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,353 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+6 bearers (+5.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,832 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.5%) | Down 2,353 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.2%) | Up 2,832 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 Witzigman 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 | #144,141 | #141,309 | 2.0% |
| Count | 115 | 121 | 5.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Witzigman bearers went from 115 to 121 (+5.2% change). The surname moved up 2,832 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #141,309.
FAQ
Witzigman surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Witzigman?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Witzigman. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Witzigman?
Witzigman 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 Witzigman. 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 Witzigman.
Has Witzigman become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Witzigman went from 115 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 6 (+5.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #144,141 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Witzigman?
Among Census respondents with the surname Witzigman, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.8%) and Hispanic (4.1%). 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 Witzigman in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.4% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Witzigman appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.4%), Two or More Races (5.8%), Hispanic (4.1%). 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 Witzigman (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 Witzigman mean?
A surname of German origin meaning "witty" or "funny man". 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 Witzigman (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 Americans have the surname Witzigman?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.