2000
#103,706
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 160
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Dittrick
A variant spelling of the surname Diedrich, meaning a powerful or prosperous ruler.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 194 Americans carry the last name Dittrick. That puts it at #110,961 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,766,775 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dittrick 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
194
1 in 1,766,775
Census rank
#110,961
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
169
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 169 bearers of the surname Dittrick in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 110961st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dittrick, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dittrick
The surname Dittrick is believed to have originated in Germany, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "dittrich," which means "leader of the people" or "ruler." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who held a position of authority or leadership in their community.
The name's earliest known appearance is in a historical record from the town of Bamberg, Germany, in the year 1325. This document mentions a man named Heinrich Dittrick, who was a local landowner and prominent figure in the region.
In the 15th century, the name Dittrick can be found in various records from different parts of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. This indicates that the name had spread to different regions, likely as a result of migration and intermarriage.
One notable individual with the surname Dittrick was Johann Dittrick, a German scholar and theologian who lived from 1439 to 1504. He was known for his contributions to the study of the Bible and his work as a professor at the University of Leipzig.
Another Dittrick of historical significance was Hans Dittrick, a German artist and engraver who lived from 1510 to 1572. He was renowned for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which depicted religious themes and scenes from the Bible.
In the 17th century, the name Dittrick appeared in records from the town of Münster, Germany, where a family of that name owned a successful brewery. One member of this family, Wilhelm Dittrick (1625-1698), was a respected brewer and businessman in the area.
The surname Dittrick also made its way to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and England. In the late 18th century, a Dutch merchant named Pieter Dittrick (1752-1821) established a successful trading company that dealt in spices and other goods from the East Indies.
In England, the name Dittrick can be found in records dating back to the early 19th century. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Dittrick (1789-1863), a British politician and landowner who served as a member of parliament for several years.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Dittrick who have left a mark on history. The name's origins and journey across different regions and countries reflect the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped many surnames over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dittrick
Among Census respondents with the surname Dittrick, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Dittrick 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 Dittrick surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.9% · 152
- Two or more races4.7% · 8
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.6% · 6
- Black or African American0.6% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Dittrick
Dittrick 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
#129,825
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 131
-29 bearers (-18.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 26,119 places
2020
#110,961
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 169
+38 bearers (+29.0%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 18,864 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #103,706 | 160 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #129,825 | 131 | 0.04 | -29 bearers (-18.1%) | Down 26,119 places |
| 2020 | #110,961 | 169 | 0.06 | +38 bearers (+29.0%) | Up 18,864 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 Dittrick 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 | #129,825 | #110,961 | 14.5% |
| Count | 131 | 169 | 29.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.06 | 41.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Dittrick bearers went from 131 to 169 (+29.0% change). The surname moved up 18,864 positions in the national ranking, going from #129,825 to #110,961.
FAQ
Dittrick surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Dittrick?
Name Census estimates that about 194 living Americans carry the surname Dittrick. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,766,775 residents.
How common is Dittrick?
Dittrick ranks #110,961 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 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 169 people with the surname Dittrick. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (194), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 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 Dittrick.
Has Dittrick become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Dittrick went from 131 recorded bearers to 169. That is an increase of 38 (+29.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #129,825 to #110,961.
What does the Census say about the background of Dittrick?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dittrick, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%). 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 Dittrick in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.9% (152 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Dittrick appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.9%), Two or More Races (4.7%), American Indian/Alaska Native (3.6%). 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 Dittrick (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 Dittrick mean?
A variant spelling of the surname Diedrich, meaning a powerful or prosperous ruler. 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 Dittrick (0.06 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 Dittrick?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.