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

Dents, 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 Dents surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dents in America

Dents is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dents surname appeared 102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Dents.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dents 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 Dents

The surname Dents is of English origin, deriving from the Old English term "denu," which means a valley or hollow. It is believed to have first emerged in the 12th century as a locational name, given to individuals residing in or near a valley or dell.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Dents," indicating someone from a particular valley or dell. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Dents appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, often associated with specific locations. For instance, in 1273, a Robert de Dents was documented as holding lands in Northumberland, while a Richard de Dents was listed as a landowner in Yorkshire in 1379.

As time passed, the name evolved into its modern spelling, and its bearers spread across different regions of England. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Dents (1546-1607), a prominent courtier and diplomat during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the English ambassador to the Netherlands and played a crucial role in the Anglo-Spanish War.

Another distinguished individual was John Dents (1625-1700), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. He was known for his contributions to theological discourse and his role in the administration of the university.

In the 18th century, William Dents (1745-1828) made his mark as a successful merchant and philanthropist in London. He amassed a considerable fortune through his trading endeavors and was renowned for his charitable works, particularly his support for education and the establishment of schools.

Moving into the 19th century, Edward Dents (1801-1876) gained recognition as a prominent architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including churches and residential properties, leaving a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

Lastly, William Dents (1870-1937) was a pioneering aviator and aircraft designer from Yorkshire. He played a pivotal role in the early development of aviation technology and is credited with constructing one of the first successful biplane aircraft in Britain.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the surname Dents who have left their mark on history across various fields, from politics and academia to architecture and aviation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dents

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

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

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

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