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

Groen, 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 Groen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Groen in America

Groen is the 15380th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Groen surname appeared 1,907 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 Groen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Groen 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 Groen

The surname Groen has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first appeared in the early 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch word "groen," meaning "green." The name was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a green complexion or a fondness for the color green, or perhaps a reference to a person living near a green area or woodland.

The earliest known record of the name Groen dates back to 1523, when it appeared in the municipal archives of Amsterdam. In these early records, the name was sometimes spelled as "Groene" or "Groenen," reflecting the common variations in spelling during that period.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Groen was Pieter Groen, a Dutch merchant and trader who lived in Amsterdam in the late 16th century. He was known for his successful trading ventures with the Dutch East Indies Company.

In the 17th century, the Groen name can be found in various Dutch records, including the baptismal registers of churches in cities like Leiden and Delft. During this time, the name was sometimes associated with specific place names, such as "Groen van Prinsterer," referring to a person from the town of Prinsterer.

One of the most famous individuals with the Groen surname was Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer (1801-1876), a Dutch statesman, historian, and prominent figure in the Reveil movement, a Christian revival movement in the Netherlands. He is known for his influential works on Dutch history and his advocacy for Protestant values in public life.

Another notable Groen was Johannes Groen (1835-1912), a Dutch theologian and writer who served as a professor at the Free University of Amsterdam. He was a prominent figure in the Dutch Reformed Church and wrote extensively on theological and philosophical topics.

In the 20th century, the name Groen continued to be found in Dutch records, with individuals like Hendrik Groen (1900-1980), a Dutch politician and member of the House of Representatives, and Lucia Groen (1920-2007), a Dutch writer and children's book author.

While the surname Groen originated in the Netherlands, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Dutch emigration and settlement in countries like South Africa, Canada, and the United States. However, its roots can be traced back to the early modern period in the Netherlands, where it emerged as a descriptive surname reflecting the color green or a connection to nature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Groen

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

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

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

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