2000
#140,756
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Kelz
A surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Michael.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Kelz. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kelz 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Kelz in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kelz, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%) and Hispanic (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kelz
The surname Kelz is of German origin, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, where it was initially spelled as "Keltz" or "Kelzer." The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "kelch," meaning "chalice" or "cup," possibly indicating an occupation or association with the production or use of such vessels.
One of the earliest documented references to the Kelz surname can be found in the records of the town of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Keltz was mentioned as a resident in the year 1543. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the region by that time.
In the 17th century, the Kelz name appears in various church records and legal documents throughout southern Germany, indicating its spread and establishment as a distinct family name. One notable individual from this period was Johann Kelz, a respected clockmaker born in Augsburg in 1624, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility of the time.
As the centuries progressed, the Kelz name continued to be associated with skilled artisans and tradesmen in German-speaking regions. In the late 18th century, a certain Christoph Kelz (1752-1832) gained recognition as a master woodcarver, with his intricate works adorning churches and public buildings throughout Bavaria.
Another prominent figure bearing the Kelz surname was Friedrich Kelz (1801-1868), a renowned philosopher and educator who taught at the University of Heidelberg. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy influenced generations of students and scholars.
The 19th century also saw the Kelz name spread beyond Germany's borders. In 1847, a family with the surname Kelz emigrated from the Rhineland region to the United States, settling in the state of Pennsylvania. Among their descendants was Jacob Kelz (1879-1957), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the local community.
Throughout its long history, the Kelz surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from skilled artisans and scholars to business leaders and innovators. While its origins may trace back to a humble reference to a cup or chalice, the name has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of Germany and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kelz
Among Census respondents with the surname Kelz, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%) and Hispanic (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Kelz 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 Kelz surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0% · 114
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.3% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Kelz
Kelz 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
#142,108
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+8 bearers (+7.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,352 places
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 59 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #140,756 | 109 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #142,108 | 117 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.3%) | Down 1,352 places |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Up 59 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 Kelz 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 | #142,108 | #142,049 | 0.0% |
| Count | 117 | 120 | 2.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Kelz bearers went from 117 to 120 (+2.6% change). The surname moved up 59 positions in the national ranking, going from #142,108 to #142,049.
FAQ
Kelz surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Kelz?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Kelz. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Kelz?
Kelz ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 120 people with the surname Kelz. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Kelz.
Has Kelz become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Kelz went from 117 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 3 (+2.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #142,108 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Kelz?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kelz, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%) and Hispanic (0.8%). 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 Kelz in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (114 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Kelz appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.0%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3.3%), Hispanic (0.8%). 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 Kelz (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 Kelz mean?
A surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Michael. 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 Kelz (0.04 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 Americans have the surname Kelz?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.