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

Dance, 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 Dance surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dance in America

Dance is the 11073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dance surname appeared 2,869 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 Dance.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dance 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 Dance

The surname Dance is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "dauncer," which means "to dance." This occupation-based surname was likely given to professional dancers, minstrels, or those who entertained through dance and music.

The earliest recorded instances of the Dance surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th century onwards. One notable example is the mention of a Robert le Dauncer in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273. This record suggests that individuals bearing this surname were active in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, the Dance surname appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a William Daunce is listed. This demonstrates the spread of the name across different parts of England. Additionally, the surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, indicating its presence in the northern regions as well.

Interestingly, the Dance surname is also believed to have connections with certain place names. For instance, the village of Daunce in Gloucestershire may have contributed to the development of the surname, with individuals taking on the name based on their association with that location.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Dance surname. One example is Sir John Dance (c. 1470-1539), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was George Dance the Elder (1695-1768), an English architect and surveyor who designed various buildings, including the Mansion House in London.

Other individuals with the Dance surname include George Dance the Younger (1741-1825), an English architect and surveyor who succeeded his father, George Dance the Elder, in various architectural projects. Walter Dance (c. 1312-1384) was an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Edward III.

The Dance surname has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in the occupation of dancing and entertaining. While its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the 13th century, the name has persisted through generations and has been associated with notable figures across various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dance

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

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

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

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