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

Denzel, 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 Denzel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Denzel in America

Denzel is the 50659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Denzel surname appeared 412 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 Denzel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Denzel 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 Denzel

The surname Denzel originates from Germany, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is derived from the German word "Tenzel," which is a diminutive form of the name "Tentzlin." This name likely evolved from the Old High German word "tenz," meaning "dance" or "dancer."

Denzel is believed to have been an occupational surname, initially bestowed upon individuals who worked as dancers, entertainers, or performers. The earliest recorded instances of the name Denzel can be traced back to the 13th century in various German chronicles and records.

One notable historical reference to the surname Denzel can be found in the Liber Censuum, a tax register compiled in the 14th century for the city of Nuremberg. This document lists several individuals bearing the name Denzel, suggesting that the surname was relatively widespread in the region during that time.

The first recorded person with the surname Denzel was Hans Denzel, born around 1320 in Nuremberg. He was a renowned dancer and entertainer who performed at various noble courts throughout Germany and neighboring regions.

Another prominent figure with the surname Denzel was Johannes Denzel, born in 1415 in Augsburg. He was a respected scholar and theologian who authored several influential works on religious doctrine and philosophy during the Renaissance period.

In the 16th century, a notable individual named Christoph Denzel, born in 1542 in Heidelberg, gained recognition as a skilled architect and engineer. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several notable buildings and fortifications in the region.

During the 17th century, the surname Denzel appeared in various places throughout Germany, including the town of Denzlingen, which is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself. This suggests that the name had become well-established and associated with particular geographic locations by that time.

Another noteworthy figure was Johann Friedrich Denzel, born in 1685 in Stuttgart. He was a renowned composer and musician during the Baroque period, known for his contributions to sacred and secular music.

Throughout its history, the surname Denzel has been associated with various occupations, including dancers, entertainers, scholars, architects, and musicians, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bore this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Denzel

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

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

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

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