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

Gratz, 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 Gratz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gratz in America

Gratz is the 20364th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gratz surname appeared 1,305 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 Gratz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gratz 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 Gratz

The surname Gratz is of German origin, derived from the town of Gratz or Graz in southern Austria. It likely emerged as a locational surname, indicating that the bearer hailed from this particular town or region.

The name Gratz is believed to stem from the Slovene word "gradec," meaning "small castle" or "fortified town." This linguistic root reflects the town's historical significance as a fortified settlement dating back to the Roman era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gratz can be found in the Annales Gradicenses, a medieval chronicle documenting the events in the town of Graz from the 12th to the 16th centuries. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 12th century.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Konrad Gratz was mentioned in the records of the Styrian nobility. He was a landowner and knight who played a role in the political affairs of the region during that time.

During the 16th century, a prominent individual named Jakob Gratz (1498-1567) gained recognition as a scholar and humanist. He was born in Graz and later became a professor at the University of Vienna, contributing significantly to the intellectual discourse of his era.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Johann Gratz (1643-1698), a Baroque architect and sculptor. He was responsible for designing and constructing several churches and buildings in Graz and the surrounding areas, leaving a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

In the 18th century, Michael Gratz (1740-1811) was a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born in Germany, he immigrated to the United States and established himself as a successful businessman, actively contributing to the development of the young nation.

Furthermore, the name Gratz has been associated with various placenames, such as Gratz Park in Lexington, Kentucky, and Graz Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, both named after individuals bearing the surname.

Overall, the surname Gratz has a rich historical lineage, deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly the town of Graz in Austria. Its connection to this fortified town and the presence of notable bearers throughout history have contributed to the surname's enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gratz

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

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

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

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