Danze last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Danze

An occupational surname derived from the Italian word "danza" meaning "to dance".

Danze, 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 Danze surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Danze in America

Danze is the 121780th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Danze surname appeared 131 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Danze.

The history of the last name Danze

The surname Danze is rooted in Italian heritage, with its origins tracing back to the medieval period in Italy. Specifically, the name is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Italy, particularly around Campania and Calabria. The surname Danze is derived from the Italian word "danza," meaning "dance," which could indicate that the original bearers of the name were involved in dancing or the performing arts in some capacity.

Historical records suggest that the surname Danze appeared in several manuscripts and documents dating back to the late Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Danze is found in a 14th-century document from Naples, where a Giovanni Danze is mentioned as a landowner. The name's spelling has remained relatively consistent over the centuries, though occasional variations such as De Danze and D'Anze have been noted in older records.

The surname Danze has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest notable figures bearing the name was Matteo Danze, a 15th-century merchant from Calabria who amassed considerable wealth and influence. Another significant historical figure is Lorenzo Danze, an artist from the Renaissance period born in 1485, known for his contributions to fresco painting in southern Italy.

Additionally, in the 17th century, a Francesca Danze gained recognition as a talented opera singer and performer in the bustling cultural scenes of Naples and Rome. Moving forward to the 18th century, a document from 1764 references Angelo Danze, a prominent lawyer and scholar from Salerno, known for his legal expertise and published works on civil law.

By the 19th century, the surname Danze had crossed the Atlantic, with records indicating that Pietro Danze, born in 1823, emigrated to the United States, where he became a successful businessman in New York. His descendants have continued to bear the surname, maintaining the legacy of their Italian roots while integrating into American society.

The surname Danze, with its rich history and connection to both cultural and professional achievements, remains a testament to the diverse contributions of those who have borne it through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Danze

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Danze was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.37% 121
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Danze last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/danze-surname-popularity/.

"Danze last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/danze-surname-popularity/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

Danze last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/danze-surname-popularity/.

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