Dent
Derived from Old English meaning "valley" or referring to someone who lived in or near a dent or hollow.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 17,275 Americans carry the last name Dent. That puts it at #2,436 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 19,841 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Dent 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
17K
1 in 19,841
Census rank
#2,436
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
15K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 14,873 bearers of the surname Dent in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2436th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Dent, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.5%. The next largest groups are Black (37.4%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Dent
The surname Dent originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "dene," meaning a valley or a hollow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dent surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1199, where a person named Adam de Dene was mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in the Yorkshire Dales area, where numerous valleys and denes are found.
The Dent surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "de Dene" and "de Dente," indicating its locational origin.
As the name spread across England, it took on different spellings and variations, such as Dente, Dunt, and Dunt. Some of these variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the way the name was pronounced in different areas.
Notable individuals with the surname Dent include Sir Edward Dent (1490-1557), a prominent English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was John Dent (1604-1659), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
In the 18th century, John Dent (1712-1787) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of the chronometer. His son, Thomas Dent (1745-1829), followed in his footsteps and became a successful clockmaker as well.
In the realm of literature, Ada Dent (1876-1963) was a British writer and poet, best known for her collection of poems titled "The Briars and Green Bracken." She was also a prominent figure in the suffragette movement.
Arthur Dent, a fictional character in Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series, is another notable bearer of the Dent surname, although he is a creation of literature rather than a historical figure.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Dent
Among Census respondents with the surname Dent, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.5%. The next largest groups are Black (37.4%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Dent 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 Dent surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White57.5%
- Black or African American37.4%
- Two or more races2.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Dent 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 | #2,436 | #2,436 | 0.0% |
| Count | 14,873 | 14,873 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.04 | 5.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Dent bearers went from 14,873 to 14,873 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,436 to #2,436.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Dent
FAQ
Dent surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Dent?
The surname Dent holds position #2,436 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 17,275 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Dent surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Dent, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.5%. The next largest groups are Black (37.4%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). 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.