Bittner (occupational name for a cooper or a barrel maker, the name was derived from the Old German word "bute," which means "cask") is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Egon Bittner (1921–2011), American sociologist Eric R. Bittner (born 1965), American scientist Horst Bittner (1927–2016), German politician (SED) Jason Bittner (born 1970), American drummer John Joseph Bittner (1904–1961), American cancer biologist Julius Bittner (1874–1939), Austrian composer Maria Bittner, American linguist Mark Bittner (born 1951), American writer Sławomir Maciej Bittner (1923–1944), Polish resistance fighter Stephan Bittner, German canoeist See also Biittner, surname Bitner, surname Occupational surnames German-language surnames de:Bittner Surnames of German origin