Explore the Family Name Fechter
The meaning of Fechter
South German: occupational name for a professional fencer or duelist, from Middle High German vehten ‘to fence’. This may have denoted someone who fought for public entertainment at fairgrounds and markets. Some characteristic forenames: German Alois, Kurt, Gunter, Hildegarde.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fechter in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Fechter experienced a marked decline in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Fechter ranked 24,663 out of all US surnames. However, by 2010, it had dropped to the rank of 28,679, showing a decrease of 16.28%. The count of individuals bearing this name also decreased during this period from 949 to 831, reflecting a drop of 12.43%. Consequently, the proportion of the Fechter surname per 100k people also fell by 20%, from 0.35 in 2000 to 0.28 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,663 | #28,679 | -16.28% |
| Count | 949 | 831 | -12.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.35 | 0.28 | -20% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fechter
Focusing on the ethnic identity associated with the Fechter surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that most bearers identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, though there was a slight decrease of 2.24% over the decade. Interestingly, the percentage of those identifying as Hispanic saw a substantial increase of 153.68% during the same period, even though it still represents a small fraction of the total. The percentage of individuals identifying with two or more races also increased from 1.05% to 1.32%. The count for those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained at zero in both years, while the category of Black appeared in 2010 with a percentage of 0.60.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.37% | 95.19% | -2.24% |
| Hispanic | 0.95% | 2.41% | 153.68% |
| Two or More Races | 1.05% | 1.32% | 25.71% |
| Black | 0% | 0.6% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |