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

Ganz, 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 Ganz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ganz in America

Ganz is the 11488th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ganz surname appeared 2,739 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ganz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ganz 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 Ganz

The surname Ganz originated in Germany and Austria, deriving from the German word "ganz" meaning "whole" or "complete." It is believed to have emerged as a surname around the 13th century, initially used to describe someone who was physically whole or uninjured, or perhaps as a nickname for someone of strong character or integrity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ganz can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Austriaco-Frisingensis, a collection of historical documents from the Archdiocese of Salzburg and the Duchy of Bavaria, dating back to the 12th century. The name is also mentioned in various medieval records and manuscripts from the German-speaking regions of Europe.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Johann Ganz, a prominent merchant and banker in the city of Nuremberg, who played a significant role in the economic and political affairs of the region. Another historical figure was Hans Ganz, a Swiss painter and engraver who lived in the 15th century and was known for his intricate woodcuts depicting religious and mythological scenes.

During the 16th century, the Ganz surname appeared in the records of the Holy Roman Empire, with several individuals bearing the name serving as advisors and officials in various courts and principalities. One such person was Hieronymus Ganz, a respected jurist and legal scholar who served as a councilor to the Emperor Maximilian II.

In the 18th century, Johann Baptist Ganz was a renowned German composer and organist, known for his contributions to the development of the classical music tradition in his native country. Another notable figure was Friedrich Ganz, a German philosopher and writer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and whose works explored themes of morality and ethics.

In the 19th century, the Ganz family played a significant role in the industrial revolution, with the establishment of the Ganz Works, a major engineering and manufacturing company based in Budapest, Hungary. Founded by Abraham Ganz, the company became a leading producer of railway equipment, machinery, and other industrial products, contributing to the economic growth and development of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable bearers of the surname Ganz, which has been present in various regions of Europe for centuries and has contributed to various fields, including commerce, arts, law, and industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ganz

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

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

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

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