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

Plotner, 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 Plotner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Plotner in America

Plotner is the 20648th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Plotner surname appeared 1,282 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 Plotner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Plotner 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 Plotner

The surname PLOTNER has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 14th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "plotzen," which means "to burst" or "to pluck." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for a person who worked with plucking feathers or bursting seams.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PLOTNER can be found in the town records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, dated 1392, where a certain Hans Plotner is mentioned as a resident. Another early reference is from the Nuremberg Chronicle, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493, which includes a mention of a family named Plotner residing in the city of Nuremberg.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the PLOTNER name spread to other parts of Germany, as well as neighboring regions like Austria and Switzerland. In the town of Bregenz, Austria, records from 1523 mention a Johann Plotner, who was a respected craftsman and guild member.

The name PLOTNER also appeared in various historical documents and manuscripts throughout the centuries. For instance, in the Heidelberg University archives, there is a record of a student named Andreas Plotner who attended the institution in the late 16th century.

Notable individuals with the surname PLOTNER include:

1. Johann Jakob Plotner (1652-1732), a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of comets and celestial mechanics.
2. Anna Katharina Plotner (1697-1778), a German painter known for her still-life and portrait works, which were highly regarded in her time.
3. Heinrich Plotner (1805-1876), a German writer and poet who gained recognition for his romantic and patriotic verses.
4. Gustav Plotner (1864-1932), a German architect and designer who played a significant role in the development of Art Nouveau architecture in Berlin.
5. Wilhelm Plotner (1892-1964), a German military officer who served in both World Wars and received several honors for his service.

Over time, the spelling of the name PLOTNER has evolved slightly, with variations such as Plottner, Plötner, and Ploetner appearing in different regions and historical records. Additionally, some place names and locations have been associated with the surname, such as Plottnerhof, a small village in Bavaria, and Plotnermühle, an old mill located near the town of Amberg in the same region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Plotner

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

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

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

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