2000
#132,259
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Kamenar
A surname derived from the Croatian word "kamen" meaning stone or rock, possibly referring to an occupation related to stonework or masonry.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Kamenar. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kamenar 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
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Kamenar in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kamenar, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kamenar
The surname KAMENAR is of Croatian origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Croatian word "kamenar," which refers to a stonemason or a worker in stone. This occupation-based surname likely originated in the coastal regions of Croatia, where stone construction was prevalent due to the ready availability of limestone and other types of stone.
The earliest known records of the KAMENAR surname can be found in various medieval documents, such as land registries and tax records from the 13th and 14th centuries. These documents often listed individuals by their profession or trade, which explains the origin of the KAMENAR surname.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Ivan KAMENAR, a stonemason who worked on the construction of the Šibenik Cathedral in the 15th century. This UNESCO World Heritage site, built entirely of stone, showcases the skilled craftsmanship of stonemasons like Ivan KAMENAR.
Another notable KAMENAR was Matej KAMENAR, a renowned sculptor from Korčula, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His intricate stone carvings can be found adorning various churches and public buildings throughout Dalmatia.
In the 18th century, a branch of the KAMENAR family settled in the town of Starigrad, on the island of Hvar. One descendant, Mihovil KAMENAR (1762-1840), gained recognition for his expertise in traditional stone construction techniques, which he passed down to future generations of stonemasons.
The KAMENAR surname can also be found in various place names throughout Croatia, such as the village of Kamenari near Obrovac, which likely derives its name from the presence of stonemasons or quarries in the area.
Throughout history, the KAMENAR surname has been associated with skilled stone workers and artisans, reflecting the rich tradition of stone construction and sculpture in the Croatian coastal regions. While the name may have evolved in spelling or been adapted to different languages over time, its connection to the stonemason trade remains a defining aspect of its heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kamenar
Among Census respondents with the surname Kamenar, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Kamenar 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 Kamenar surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.1% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.0% · 2
- Two or more races2.0% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kamenar
Kamenar 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
#141,140
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,881 places
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-16 bearers (-13.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 13,615 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #132,259 | 118 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #141,140 | 118 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 8,881 places |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -16 bearers (-13.6%) | Down 13,615 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 Kamenar 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 | #141,140 | #154,755 | -9.6% |
| Count | 118 | 102 | -13.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kamenar bearers went from 118 to 102 (-13.6% change). The surname moved down 13,615 positions in the national ranking, going from #141,140 to #154,755.
FAQ
Kamenar surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kamenar?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Kamenar. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Kamenar?
Kamenar ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 102 people with the surname Kamenar. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Kamenar.
Has Kamenar become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kamenar went from 118 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 16 (-13.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #141,140 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Kamenar?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kamenar, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%). 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 Kamenar in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.1% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kamenar appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.1%), Hispanic (2.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.0%). 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 Kamenar (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 Kamenar mean?
A surname derived from the Croatian word "kamen" meaning stone or rock, possibly referring to an occupation related to stonework or masonry. 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 Kamenar (0.03 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 are called Kamenar?
If you just want to know how many people are called Kamenar, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.