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

Behrendt, 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 Behrendt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Behrendt in America

Behrendt is the 13874th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Behrendt surname appeared 2,177 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Behrendt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Behrendt 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 Behrendt

The surname Behrendt is of German origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Low German word "bere," meaning bear, and the suffix "-endt," which indicates a location or place of origin. Therefore, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a bear's den or a place associated with bears.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in various regions of northern Germany, particularly in the areas around present-day Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Brandenburg. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hinrich Behrendt, a landowner mentioned in the records of the city of Lübeck in 1289.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Bernd, Berndt, and Berendt, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. Several place names in Germany, such as Behrendorf and Behrensdorf, also derive from the same root, indicating the name's connection to specific locations.

During the Middle Ages, the Behrendt family played a significant role in the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. One notable member was Hans Behrendt (1430-1492), a successful merchant and ship owner based in Lübeck, who contributed to the league's prosperity.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the rise of the Protestant Reformation. Johannes Behrendt (1510-1572) was a prominent Lutheran theologian and reformer who served as the rector of the University of Rostock and played a crucial role in establishing Protestantism in the region.

Another notable figure was Zacharias Behrendt (1620-1688), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister at the court of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. His compositions, particularly his church music, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Carl Behrendt (1745-1815) was a German architect and urban planner who contributed to the development of several cities in Prussia, including the reconstruction of Berlin after the devastating fires of 1787.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent figures with the Behrendt surname, such as Max Behrendt (1825-1897), a German linguist and philologist who specialized in Slavic languages and made significant contributions to the field of comparative linguistics.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the Behrendt surname who have left their mark throughout history. The name's origins and evolution reflect the rich cultural heritage of northern Germany and the significant roles played by its bearers in various fields over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Behrendt

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

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

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

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