Find out how popular the last name Biesanz is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Biesanz.
Of German origin, relating to someone who lived near an area overgrown with reeds.
Biesanz, 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 Biesanz surname is from the 2010 census data.
Biesanz is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Biesanz surname appeared 106 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 Biesanz.
The surname BIESANZ originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, most likely in the area that is now modern-day Germany or Switzerland. The name is believed to have its roots in the Middle High German word "biese," which referred to a marshy or swampy area. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a locational surname, given to someone who lived near or worked in a marshy region.
The earliest known record of the BIESANZ surname dates back to the 14th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the region. One notable example is the mention of a Rudolf Biesanz in a land registry from the town of Freiburg im Breisgau, dated 1372. This suggests that the name was already established in the area by the late medieval period.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the BIESANZ surname began to spread more widely throughout German-speaking territories, as families with this name migrated to other regions. This included areas such as Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. In some cases, the name may have undergone slight variations in spelling, such as Biesantz or Biesanz.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the BIESANZ surname was Johann Biesanz, a German theologian and Protestant reformer who lived from 1545 to 1612. He was a proponent of the Calvinist movement and played a significant role in the spread of Protestant teachings in the region of Hesse.
Another notable figure was Karl Biesanz, a German-born engineer and inventor who lived from 1792 to 1876. He is credited with developing several innovative techniques in the field of bridge construction, including the use of iron in suspension bridges.
In the 19th century, the BIESANZ surname began to appear in various parts of the world due to emigration from German-speaking regions. One example is Johann Biesanz, a German immigrant to the United States who settled in Wisconsin in the 1850s and became a prominent farmer and landowner in the area.
Another notable individual with the BIESANZ surname was Max Biesanz, a Swiss-born anthropologist who lived from 1916 to 1999. He conducted extensive research on the cultures and societies of Central America, particularly in Costa Rica, and authored several influential books on the subject.
In summary, the surname BIESANZ has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely deriving from a word related to marshy or swampy areas. While not a particularly common name, it has been documented in historical records dating back to the 14th century and has been associated with notable figures in various fields, from theology and engineering to agriculture and anthropology.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Biesanz.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Biesanz was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 90.57% | 96 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | 5.66% | 6 |
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.
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 Biesanz was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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"Biesanz last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on September 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/biesanz-surname-popularity/.
"Biesanz last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/biesanz-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 September, 2025
Biesanz last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/biesanz-surname-popularity/.
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