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

Dant, 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 Dant surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dant in America

Dant is the 18366th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dant surname appeared 1,508 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 Dant.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dant 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 Dant

The surname DANT is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have emerged in the county of Derbyshire during the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "dant," which means "valley" or "low-lying area." This suggests that the name may have been a topographic designation for someone who lived in a valley or near a ravine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DANT can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from 1327, where a certain John Dant is listed as a taxpayer. This indicates that the surname was already established in the region during that time period. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1348 mention a Robert Dant, further cementing the presence of the name in various parts of England.

The DANT surname also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332, where a William Dant is recorded. This document provides valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during the Middle Ages. It is worth noting that the spelling variations of the name, such as "Dant" and "Dante," were common in historical records due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One notable figure bearing the DANT surname was Sir John Dant, a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament who lived in the 16th century. He served as a representative for the county of Derbyshire in the Parliament of 1555 during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another noteworthy individual was Thomas Dant, a renowned poet and playwright born in 1567 in Warwickshire, known for his contributions to Elizabethan literature.

In the 17th century, the DANT surname gained further recognition with the birth of William Dant (1620-1692), a respected theologian and author who served as the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. His influential works on religious subjects were widely read and studied during his lifetime.

The 18th century saw the emergence of another prominent figure, Sir Henry Dant (1745-1822), a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. He rose through the ranks and was knighted for his valor and leadership on the battlefield.

As the centuries progressed, the DANT surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with individuals from different backgrounds and professions bearing this name. While the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period, its enduring presence serves as a testament to its historical significance and the richness of English onomastic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dant

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

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

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

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