2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Denti
An Italian surname derived from the word "dente" meaning tooth.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Denti. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Denti 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Denti in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Denti, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Denti
The surname Denti is of Italian origin, deriving from the Latin word "dens," meaning "tooth." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or occupation reference in medieval Italy.
The earliest known record of the Denti surname dates back to the 13th century in the region of Tuscany, where it was found in documents from the city of Florence. In these records, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Denti," "Dente," and "De Dentibus."
During the Renaissance period, the Denti family played a prominent role in the cultural and political life of Florence. Niccolò di Luca Denti (1457-1530) was a renowned sculptor and architect who worked on several notable projects, including the Palazzo Pitti and the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Another notable figure bearing the Denti surname was Girolamo Denti (1551-1623), a Italian mathematician and astronomer. He is best known for his work on celestial mechanics and his contributions to the advancement of telescopic observation.
In the 17th century, the Denti family expanded their influence beyond Italy. Giovanni Battista Denti (1594-1670) was an Italian diplomat and writer who served as the ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to various European courts, including those of France and England.
The Denti surname also gained recognition in the field of literature. Antonio Denti (1680-1743) was an Italian poet and playwright whose works were celebrated for their wit and satirical commentary on contemporary society.
During the 19th century, the Denti name continued to appear in various parts of Italy, with several individuals making significant contributions to their respective fields. Vincenzo Denti (1815-1892) was a prominent Italian philosopher and educator who advocated for educational reforms and the advancement of women's rights.
While the origin of the Denti surname can be traced back to medieval Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its roots remain firmly embedded in the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the Italian peninsula.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Denti
Among Census respondents with the surname Denti, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Denti 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 Denti surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.3% · 112
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Denti
Denti appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#125,282
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 137
+24 bearers (+21.2%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 11,501 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-17 bearers (-12.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 16,767 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #125,282 | 137 | 0.05 | +24 bearers (+21.2%) | Up 11,501 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -17 bearers (-12.4%) | Down 16,767 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 Denti 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 | #125,282 | #142,049 | -13.4% |
| Count | 137 | 120 | -12.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -19.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Denti bearers went from 137 to 120 (-12.4% change). The surname moved down 16,767 positions in the national ranking, going from #125,282 to #142,049.
FAQ
Denti surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Denti?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Denti. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Denti?
Denti ranks #142,049 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 120 people with the surname Denti. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), 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 Denti.
Has Denti become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Denti went from 137 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 17 (-12.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #125,282 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Denti?
Among Census respondents with the surname Denti, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Denti in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.3% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Denti appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.3%), Hispanic (2.5%), Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Denti (2000, 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 Denti mean?
An Italian surname derived from the word "dente" meaning tooth. 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 Denti (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 Denti?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.