Kaas
A surname derived from the Dutch word for cheese.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Kaas. That puts it at #36,154 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kaas surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#36,154
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
620
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 620 bearers of the surname Kaas in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 36154th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kaas, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kaas
The surname KAAS has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first emerged in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Dutch word "kaas," which means "cheese." It likely originated as an occupational name for someone involved in the production or sale of cheese.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname KAAS can be found in the Dutch municipal records of the city of Leiden from the year 1390, where a certain Jan Kaas is mentioned as a resident. Another early reference comes from the city of Gouda in 1428, when a man named Willem Kaas is listed in the town's tax records.
One of the earliest and most notable people to bear the surname KAAS was Nicolaes Kaas (1535-1605), a Dutch statesman who served as the Grand Pensionary of Holland from 1585 to 1594. He played a crucial role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule and was instrumental in establishing the Dutch Republic.
In the 17th century, the KAAS surname spread beyond the Netherlands, with some bearers settling in other parts of Europe and the New World. One notable individual from this period was Pieter Jacobsz Kaas (1592-1660), a Dutch navigator and explorer who captained several expeditions to the Arctic regions and documented the discovery of Svalbard and Jan Mayen Island.
The 18th century saw the birth of Jacob Kaas (1718-1793), a Danish botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in Greenland. He authored several works, including the influential "Enumeratio insectorum Norvegicorum" (Enumeration of Norwegian Insects), published in 1763.
In the 19th century, the surname KAAS became more widespread, with bearers found in various parts of Europe and the Americas. One notable figure from this period was Hendrik Kaas (1819-1892), a Dutch-born American businessman and politician who served as the 22nd Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, from 1867 to 1869.
As the KAAS surname spread across the globe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Kaes, Kase, and Kays, among others. However, the original Dutch spelling of "KAAS" remains the most common form of the name to this day.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kaas
Among Census respondents with the surname Kaas, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Kaas bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Kaas surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Two or more races1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kaas surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,154 | #36,154 | 0.0% |
| Count | 620 | 620 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kaas bearers went from 620 to 620 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #36,154 to #36,154.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kaas
FAQ
Kaas surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kaas?
The surname Kaas holds position #36,154 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kaas surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kaas, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.