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

Dees, 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 Dees surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dees in America

Dees is the 3299th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dees surname appeared 10,887 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Dees.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dees 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 Dees

The surname Dees has its origins in the Netherlands, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Dutch word "dees," which means "this." This could suggest that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a particular landmark or location.

One of the earliest known references to the name Dees can be found in a Dutch census record from the town of Leiden in the year 1572. The record mentions a Pieter Dees, who was a merchant and landowner in the area.

The Dees surname also appears in various historical documents from the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen. In the 17th century, a notable figure named Jan Dees (1603-1673) was a prominent lawyer and magistrate in the city of Leeuwarden, Friesland.

In the 18th century, the Dees name spread to other parts of Europe, including Germany and France. In 1732, a German philosopher and mathematician named Johann Martin Dees (1705-1759) was born in Hanover. He made significant contributions to the field of calculus and wrote several influential works on mathematics.

Another individual of note was the French artist and painter, Jacques-Louis Dees (1760-1832). Born in Paris, he was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works can be found in various museums across Europe.

In the 19th century, the Dees surname also made its way to the United States. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of William Dees (1812-1888), who was born in Ohio and later became a successful businessman and landowner in Illinois.

Another notable American with the Dees surname was Sarah Dees (1857-1925), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools in Alabama and worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for women and girls in the South.

Throughout its history, the Dees surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from law and philosophy to art and education. While its origins can be traced back to the Netherlands, the name has since spread across the globe, leaving its mark on various cultures and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dees

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

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

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

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