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

Kensler, 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 Kensler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kensler in America

Kensler is the 58042nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kensler surname appeared 350 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kensler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kensler 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 Kensler

The surname KENSLER is of German origin, with roots traced back to the early 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where it was initially spelled as "Kenzler" or "Kentzler." The name is derived from the German word "Kenz," which refers to a type of medieval helmet or headgear worn by soldiers and knights.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the KENSLER surname can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Nürnberg in 1523, where a certain Hans Kenzler was registered as a resident. These church records were crucial in documenting the lives and events of local communities during that era.

In the 17th century, the KENSLER name appeared in various historical documents from the German states, including land grants, tax records, and military rosters. For instance, a Johann Kensler was listed as a landowner in the village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1631, during the tumultuous years of the Thirty Years' War.

The KENSLER surname has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Friedrich Kensler (1745-1821), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. His compositions, primarily church music and instrumental works, were highly regarded in his time.

Another prominent bearer of the KENSLER name was Carl Kensler (1820-1892), a German-American artist and painter known for his landscape and genre scenes. He emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and became a respected member of the Hudson River School of American landscape painters.

In the late 19th century, the KENSLER surname also appeared in historical records from the Alsace region of France, where it was spelled as "Kensler" or "Kenzler." One notable figure from this area was Marie Kensler (1875-1948), a French educator and women's rights activist who campaigned for educational reforms and gender equality.

Additionally, the KENSLER name has been linked to various place names and geographic locations throughout Germany and neighboring regions. For example, the village of Kentzlerdorf in Bavaria was likely named after an early settler or landowner with the surname KENSLER.

Throughout its history, the KENSLER surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Kenzler, Kentzler, Kensler, and Kenssler, reflecting regional dialects and differences in recordkeeping practices. However, the name's origins and connection to the German word "Kenz" have remained a consistent thread throughout its evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kensler

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

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

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

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