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

Dehnke, 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 Dehnke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dehnke in America

Dehnke is the 75564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dehnke surname appeared 255 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 Dehnke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dehnke 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 Dehnke

The surname DEHNKE is of German origin, derived from the Low German word "denne," meaning "pine tree." This suggests that the name likely originated in northern Germany or areas influenced by Low German dialects, such as parts of modern-day Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DEHNKE name dates back to the 16th century, when it was documented in the church records of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, a town closely associated with the Protestant Reformation. This connection suggests that some early bearers of the name may have been Lutherans or had ties to the Reformation movement.

The DEHNKE surname is also found in historical documents from the Prussian region, particularly in areas around Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia). This could indicate that the name had a strong presence among German settlers or communities in what was once East Prussia.

Variations in the spelling of the name, such as Dennke, Denke, or Dehnke, can be found in various historical records from different regions, reflecting local pronunciation and orthographic conventions.

One notable bearer of the DEHNKE surname was Johann Gottfried Dehnke (1744-1814), a German composer and organist from Kleinröhrsdorf, Saxony. He composed several works for organ and was known for his contributions to church music during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Another individual of historical significance was Karl Friedrich Dehnke (1788-1857), a German jurist and legal scholar from Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He served as a judge and published several works on German civil law, contributing to the development of legal theory and practice in the region.

In the realm of literature, Friedrich August Dehnke (1815-1877) was a German poet and writer from Schleswig-Holstein. He is best known for his collection of poems titled "Gedichte" (Poems), which explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Among other notable figures was August Wilhelm Dehnke (1829-1903), a German architect and urban planner from Berlin. He was instrumental in the design and development of several public buildings and urban projects in Berlin during the late 19th century, leaving a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

Lastly, Hans Dehnke (1888-1956) was a German businessman and industrialist from Hamburg. He played a significant role in the growth and expansion of the Dehnke family's manufacturing business, which specialized in producing machinery and equipment for the maritime industry.

Throughout its history, the DEHNKE surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from artists and scholars to architects and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have borne this name across Germany and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dehnke

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

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

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

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