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

Denning, 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 Denning surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Denning in America

Denning is the 4402nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Denning surname appeared 8,076 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Denning.

We can also compare 2010 data for Denning 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 Denning

The surname Denning is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'denu,' meaning a valley or a hollow. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near or in a valley or a hollow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denning can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de Dening.' This suggests that the name was already in use by the 11th century, and it may have been associated with a particular place or settlement.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records as 'Dening' and 'Denynge,' indicating variations in spelling over time. These early forms of the name are thought to have derived from place names such as Dening in Sussex and Denning in Kent, which both referred to locations situated in valleys or hollows.

One notable bearer of the Denning surname was Sir John Denning (1914-1999), a highly respected English lawyer and judge who served as the Master of the Rolls from 1962 to 1982. He was known for his progressive and influential legal decisions, particularly in the areas of family law and civil liberties.

Another prominent figure was Alfred Denning, Baron Denning (1899-1999), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Master of the Rolls from 1962 to 1982 and later as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1957 to 1962. He was renowned for his judicial activism and his contributions to the development of English law.

In the 16th century, the name appears in records associated with the village of Denning in Kent, such as William Denning, who was born in Denning in 1547. This suggests that the name may have originated from or been associated with this particular location.

The Denning family also had a presence in the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being Thomas Denning, who emigrated from England to Virginia in the 17th century and settled in Stafford County.

Another notable bearer of the Denning surname was William Frederick Denning (1848-1920), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Music and the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Overall, the surname Denning has a long and rich history, with its origins rooted in the Old English language and its association with topographic features such as valleys and hollows. It has been borne by many notable individuals throughout history, both in England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Denning

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

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

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

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