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

Kmetz, 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 Kmetz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kmetz in America

Kmetz is the 17745th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kmetz surname appeared 1,579 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 Kmetz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kmetz 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 Kmetz

The surname KMETZ has its origins in the Czech Republic, where it first emerged in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old Czech word "kmet," which referred to a free peasant or landowner. It is believed that the name was initially used to distinguish individuals who held this status within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KMETZ name can be found in a registry of landowners in the region of Bohemia, dated to around 1380. This document lists several individuals bearing the surname, suggesting that it had already gained some prevalence by that time.

During the 15th century, the KMETZ name spread across various regions of what is now the Czech Republic, as well as parts of Slovakia and Poland. Historical records from this period, such as tax rolls and legal documents, contain numerous references to individuals with this surname.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the KMETZ name was Jan Kmetz (1522-1592), a Czech Protestant reformer and theologian. He played a significant role in the spread of the Hussite movement, which sought to reform the Catholic Church in Bohemia.

Another prominent figure with the KMETZ surname was Antonín Kmetz (1784-1858), a Czech writer and playwright. His works were influential in shaping the development of Czech literature and drama during the 19th century.

The KMETZ name also found its way into other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with strong Czech or Slovak communities. For example, in the late 18th century, Josef Kmetz (1776-1845) was a renowned Hungarian-born composer and violinist of Czech descent.

During the 19th century, the KMETZ surname became more widespread due to increased migration and population movements. One notable bearer from this period was Matěj Kmetz (1832-1908), a Czech painter and art teacher who played a significant role in the development of modern Czech art.

As the centuries progressed, the KMETZ name continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and professionals. However, many of the earliest records and historical references to this surname can be traced back to its Czech origins and the distinct social status associated with the term "kmet."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kmetz

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

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

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

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