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

Kesner, 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 Kesner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kesner in America

Kesner is the 14943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kesner surname appeared 1,980 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 Kesner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kesner 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 Kesner

The surname Kesner is of German origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Germanic word "kes," which means cheese, suggesting that the name's earliest bearers were likely involved in the production or trade of cheese.

The name Kesner first appeared in historical records in the region of Bavaria, a state in southeastern Germany. It is thought to have originated as a descriptive surname, given to individuals whose occupation or association was related to the cheese industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kesner can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of the town of Augsburg, Bavaria, dating back to the late 1500s. These records document the births, marriages, and deaths of individuals with the surname Kesner within the local community.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the name Kesner was Johann Kesner (1605-1672), a German theologian and philosopher from Nuremberg. He authored several influential works on Protestant theology and was widely respected for his contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.

Another notable bearer of the surname Kesner was Karl Kesner (1771-1848), a German industrialist and entrepreneur from Saxony. He established a successful textile manufacturing business, which played a significant role in the economic development of the region.

As the Kesner family spread across Germany and beyond, variations in the spelling of the name emerged. Some of the alternative spellings include Kessner, Keszner, and Kessener, reflecting regional linguistic differences and the evolution of the surname over time.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Kesner was August Kesner (1825-1897), a German-American artist and painter. Born in Saxony, he emigrated to the United States and became known for his landscape and genre paintings, which captured the beauty and spirit of his adopted country.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the Kesner name was Otto Kesner (1879-1942), a German-born American engineer and inventor. He made significant contributions to the development of early automotive technologies and held several patents for his innovative designs.

While the surname Kesner originated in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from their homeland. The name continues to be prevalent in countries with German diaspora communities, serving as a testament to its rich historical and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kesner

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

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

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

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