Explore the Family Name Sweetser
The meaning of Sweetser
1. English: from Middle English swet(e) ‘sweet, pleasant, agreeable’ + sire, sier ‘master’, a respectful form of address, especially towards an older man. As a nickname it was probably applied to someone who habitually used the expression. Compare Sire. 2. Possibly also an altered form Switzer, a surname of ultimately German or Swiss German origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sweetser in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Sweetser has experienced a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Sweetser was ranked as the 22,833rd most popular surname in the United States with 1,047 individuals bearing this name; this translates to approximately 0.39 people per 100k. However, by 2010, the rank had dropped to 23,238th, with the count increasing slightly to 1,097 individuals or roughly 0.37 per 100k. This indicates a drop in rank by 1.77% but an increase in count by 4.78%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,833 | #23,238 | -1.77% |
| Count | 1,047 | 1,097 | 4.78% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.39 | 0.37 | -5.13% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sweetser
The ethnic identity connected to the surname Sweetser also saw some changes between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority of those with this surname identified as White, comprising 95.42% in 2000 and decreasing slightly to 93.71% in 2010. Individuals identifying as belonging to two or more races remained steady at 2.01%. Interestingly, the percentage of individuals with the Sweetser surname identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a rise from 0% in 2000 to 1.91% in 2010. There were no recorded individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black in either year, while those identifying as Hispanic remained constant at 2.01%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.42% | 93.71% | -1.79% |
| Two or More Races | 2.01% | 2.01% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 2.01% | 2.01% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.91% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |