2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Demenezes
Portuguese surname meaning "from Meneses", denoting someone originating from that region.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Demenezes. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Demenezes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Demenezes in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Demenezes, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%) and Two or More Races (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Demenezes
The surname DEMENEZES is of Portuguese origin, tracing its roots back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Portugal, particularly in areas such as Minho and Douro Litoral. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "menezes," which itself is thought to have evolved from the Latin word "minuciis," meaning "small" or "insignificant."
One of the earliest documented references to the DEMENEZES name can be found in a 16th-century manuscript known as the "Livro de Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), which chronicles the noble families of Portugal. This manuscript mentions a prominent family with the surname DEMENEZES, indicating their noble status and influence during that period.
The first recorded bearer of the DEMENEZES name is believed to be João de Menezes, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a military commander during the Portuguese conquest of Morocco. His exploits and bravery in battle earned him recognition and helped establish the DEMENEZES name as one associated with valor and military prowess.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the DEMENEZES surname. One such figure is Pedro de Menezes (1658-1743), a Portuguese nobleman and military officer who served as the Governor of Rio de Janeiro during the early 18th century. His administration was marked by efforts to improve the city's infrastructure and defenses.
Another prominent DEMENEZES was Tomás António de Menezes (1766-1838), a Portuguese diplomat and statesman who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the reign of King João VI. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and maintaining diplomatic relations with other nations during a turbulent period in Portuguese history.
In the literary realm, Manuel de Menezes (1672-1743) was a renowned Portuguese poet and playwright who made significant contributions to the development of the Portuguese baroque style. His works, such as "O Fenix da Lusitania" (The Phoenix of Lusitania), earned him widespread acclaim and recognition as one of the leading literary figures of his time.
The DEMENEZES surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Portugal. For instance, the town of Menezes, located in the northern region of Portugal, is believed to have derived its name from the DEMENEZES family who held significant influence and land in the area during the medieval period.
While the DEMENEZES name has its roots in Portugal, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly to former Portuguese colonies such as Brazil and parts of Africa, where individuals with this surname can still be found today. However, its rich historical legacy and connections to nobility, military service, and cultural achievements remain firmly rooted in its Portuguese origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Demenezes
Among Census respondents with the surname Demenezes, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%) and Two or More Races (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Demenezes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Demenezes surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.1% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino7.1% · 8
- Two or more races4.4% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.5% · 4
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Demenezes
Demenezes appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
+5 bearers (+4.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 4,311 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.6%) | Up 4,311 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Demenezes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #147,221 | 2.8% |
| Count | 108 | 113 | 4.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Demenezes bearers went from 108 to 113 (+4.6% change). The surname moved up 4,311 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #147,221.
FAQ
Demenezes surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Demenezes?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Demenezes. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Demenezes?
Demenezes ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 113 people with the surname Demenezes. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Demenezes.
Has Demenezes become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Demenezes went from 108 recorded bearers to 113. That is an increase of 5 (+4.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Demenezes?
Among Census respondents with the surname Demenezes, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%) and Two or More Races (4.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Demenezes in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.1% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Demenezes appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.1%), Hispanic (7.1%), Two or More Races (4.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Demenezes (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Demenezes mean?
Portuguese surname meaning "from Meneses", denoting someone originating from that region. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Demenezes (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Demenezes?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.