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

Dhonau, 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 Dhonau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dhonau in America

Dhonau is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dhonau surname appeared 103 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 Dhonau.

The history of the last name Dhonau

The surname DHONAU has its origins in the German-speaking regions of central Europe, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to have derived from the Old High German word "dôn," meaning "to resound" or "to make a loud noise," suggesting that the original bearer may have had a booming voice or lived near a noisy waterfall or river.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Codex Manesse, a medieval manuscript containing poems and illustrations from the 12th and 13th centuries. Among the authors featured is a certain Walther von der Vogelweide, whose full name is sometimes recorded as Walther von der Dhonau, indicating a possible connection to the surname.

In the 14th century, a wealthy merchant named Hans Dhonau is mentioned in the municipal records of the city of Nuremberg, where he owned several properties and businesses. His descendants went on to become influential members of the local aristocracy, with some serving as city councilors and magistrates.

During the Renaissance, a notable figure bearing the name was Johann Dhonau, a German humanist scholar and poet born in 1492. He studied at the University of Wittenberg and was a contemporary of Martin Luther, with whom he exchanged several letters on religious and philosophical matters.

In the 17th century, a series of villages in the Bavarian region were known collectively as the "Dhonaudörfer" (Dhonau villages), suggesting a concentration of families with this surname in that area. One of these villages, Oberdhonau, was the birthplace of Christoph Dhonau (1615-1672), a renowned Baroque architect who designed several churches and palaces in southern Germany and Austria.

Another notable figure was Maria Dhonau (1779-1856), a German opera singer and composer who performed throughout Europe during the early 19th century. She was particularly admired for her interpretations of works by Mozart and Beethoven, and her compositions were praised by critics of the time.

While the surname DHONAU is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions of central Europe, with many bearers having made significant contributions in various fields such as commerce, academia, architecture, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dhonau

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

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 Dhonau 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.

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

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

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