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

Bentzel, 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 Bentzel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bentzel in America

Bentzel is the 55121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bentzel surname appeared 373 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Bentzel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bentzel 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 Bentzel

The surname Bentzel is believed to have originated in Germany, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "benoz," which means "bent grass" or "reed," suggesting a potential connection to occupations related to agriculture or plant-based crafts.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Bentzel surname can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Lubecensis," a collection of historical documents from the city of Lübeck, Germany, dating back to 1349. This document mentions a certain "Johannes Bentzel," indicating the presence of the name in the region during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Bentzel surname appeared in various records across Germany, including the "Kirchenbücher" (church records) of several towns and villages. Notable individuals bearing this name during this era include Hans Bentzel (1512-1578), a prominent merchant from Nuremberg, and Margaretha Bentzel (1524-1598), a respected midwife in the town of Augsburg.

As the centuries progressed, the Bentzel name spread to other parts of Europe, with records showing individuals bearing this surname in countries such as Switzerland and Austria. One notable figure was Johann Bentzel (1662-1726), a Swiss theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Basel.

In the 18th century, the Bentzel surname gained recognition in the literary world with the writings of Johann Christian Bentzel (1736-1804), a German author and historian who published several works on the history of the city of Leipzig.

Another noteworthy individual with the Bentzel surname was Friedrich Bentzel (1781-1862), a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction efforts of Berlin after the Napoleonic Wars.

While the Bentzel name has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the earliest and most significant historical records and notable figures associated with this surname can be traced back to its German origins, reflecting its rich cultural and linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bentzel

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

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

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

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