2000
#149,328
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Glentz
Locational surname originating from a town or place called Glenz.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 131 Americans carry the last name Glentz. That puts it at #146,495 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,616,445 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Glentz 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
131
1 in 2,616,445
Census rank
#146,495
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
114
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 114 bearers of the surname Glentz in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 146495th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Glentz, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.1%) and Hispanic (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Glentz
The surname Glentz is believed to have originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely during the late medieval period or the Renaissance era. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that may have been influenced by the German word "glanz," meaning "shine" or "brilliance."
One of the earliest known references to the Glentz name can be found in the records of the town of Glenz, located in the region of Thuringia, Germany. This town's name is believed to be the source of the surname, with variations such as Glentz, Glenz, and Glänz emerging over time.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Hans Glentz (1523-1585) was a prominent goldsmith and engraver in the city of Nuremberg, known for his intricate and highly detailed metalwork. His craftsmanship brought recognition to the Glentz name during this period.
Another historical figure was Johann Glentz (1670-1736), a German composer and organist from the Baroque era. He served as the court organist for the Prince of Saxe-Weissenfels and composed several works for organ and other instruments.
In the 19th century, Otto Glentz (1818-1891) was a German politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Prussian House of Representatives and was known for his advocacy of democratic reforms.
The Glentz surname also appears in historical records from other European countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, suggesting that branches of the family may have migrated or established themselves in these regions over time.
One notable individual from Switzerland was Jakob Glentz (1892-1964), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Zurich, including the Fraumünster Church and the Opernhaus Zürich (Zurich Opera House).
While the Glentz surname may not be as widely known as some other German surnames, its rich history and connections to various professions and regions contribute to the diversity and cultural significance of this family name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Glentz
Among Census respondents with the surname Glentz, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.1%) and Hispanic (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Glentz 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 Glentz surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.3% · 95
- Two or more races6.1% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino4.4% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.6% · 3
- Black or African American1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Glentz
Glentz 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
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
+21 bearers (+20.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 12,001 places
2020
#146,495
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
-8 bearers (-6.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,168 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #149,328 | 101 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | +21 bearers (+20.8%) | Up 12,001 places |
| 2020 | #146,495 | 114 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-6.6%) | Down 9,168 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 Glentz 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 | #137,327 | #146,495 | -6.7% |
| Count | 122 | 114 | -6.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -4.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Glentz bearers went from 122 to 114 (-6.6% change). The surname moved down 9,168 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #146,495.
FAQ
Glentz surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Glentz?
Name Census estimates that about 131 living Americans carry the surname Glentz. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,616,445 residents.
How common is Glentz?
Glentz ranks #146,495 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 114 people with the surname Glentz. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (131), 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 Glentz.
Has Glentz become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Glentz went from 122 recorded bearers to 114. That is a decrease of 8 (-6.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #146,495.
What does the Census say about the background of Glentz?
Among Census respondents with the surname Glentz, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.1%) and Hispanic (4.4%). 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 Glentz in the 2020 Census, accounting for 83.3% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Glentz appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (83.3%), Two or More Races (6.1%), Hispanic (4.4%). 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 Glentz (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 Glentz mean?
Locational surname originating from a town or place called Glenz. 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 Glentz (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 Glentz?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.