Dench
An English surname derived from the Old English word "denu" meaning a valley or vale.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Dench. That puts it at #89,403 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dench surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#89,403
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
207
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 207 bearers of the surname Dench in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 89403rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dench, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.8%) and Black (4.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dench
The surname Dench is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "denc," which means a deep wooded valley or hollow. This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who resided in or near such geographical features.
The earliest known record of the Dench surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Dence" or "de Denche." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants throughout England and parts of Wales.
During the medieval period, the name was predominantly found in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. Some of the earliest recorded instances include William de Dench, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1203, and Robert de Denche, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.
The name Dench is also believed to have connections to various place names, such as Denham and Denchworth, which further reinforces its geographical origins. For example, the village of Denchworth, located in Oxfordshire, was previously known as "Dencheswrthe" in the Domesday Book, meaning "Dench's homestead" or "farm."
Notable individuals who bore the Dench surname throughout history include:
1. Sir John Dench (1588-1658), an English judge and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wallingford and Berkshire.
2. Thomas Dench (1677-1767), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Two Covenants."
3. William Dench (1784-1854), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal.
4. Judi Dench (born 1934), the renowned English actress known for her roles in films such as "Shakespeare in Love," "Skyfall," and "Philomena," for which she received an Academy Award.
5. Sir Richard Dench (1915-1997), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg from 1973 to 1977.
While the Dench surname has evolved over time, with variations like Densh, Denche, and Denchez appearing in historical records, it has maintained its strong English heritage and associations with rural landscapes and settlements.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dench
Among Census respondents with the surname Dench, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.8%) and Black (4.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Dench bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Dench surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.9%
- Hispanic or Latino4.8%
- Black or African American4.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dench surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #89,403 | #89,403 | 0.0% |
| Count | 207 | 207 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Dench bearers went from 207 to 207 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #89,403 to #89,403.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dench
FAQ
Dench surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dench?
The surname Dench holds position #89,403 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dench surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dench, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.8%) and Black (4.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.