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

Kass, 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 Kass surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kass in America

Kass is the 8655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kass surname appeared 3,796 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 Kass.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kass 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 Kass

The surname Kass has its origins in the German language, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "kasse," which means "box" or "chest." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname, referring to someone who made or sold boxes or chests.

In Germany, the surname Kass was particularly common in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a document from the town of Nürnberg, dated 1287, which mentions a person named Hans Kass.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Cass, Kasse, and Kasse. In some instances, the name was also associated with certain place names. For example, in the Netherlands, the surname Kass was sometimes linked to the town of Kasse, located in the province of Friesland.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Kass. One of the earliest was Johann Kass (1470-1542), a German painter and engraver who was active in Nuremberg during the Renaissance period. Another prominent figure was Theodor Kass (1835-1904), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on church history.

In the 20th century, the name Kass gained recognition through individuals such as Lewis Kass (1904-1975), an American painter and lithographer known for his depictions of urban life. Additionally, Leon R. Kass (born 1939) is an American philosopher and bioethicist who served as the chairman of the President's Council on Bioethics from 2001 to 2005.

Notably, the surname Kass has also been associated with prominent figures in the field of literature. One example is Sherry Kass (born 1947), an American author and playwright who has written several novels and plays. Another is Candace Kass (born 1972), a Canadian novelist and short story writer known for her works exploring themes of identity and cultural heritage.

While the surname Kass has its roots in Germany and has spread across various regions, it remains a relatively uncommon name globally. However, it continues to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, each adding their own unique chapter to the rich history of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kass

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

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

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

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