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

Koontz, 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 Koontz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Koontz in America

Koontz is the 3392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Koontz surname appeared 10,538 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Koontz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Koontz 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 Koontz

The surname Koontz originated in Germany and is believed to have derived from the German word "Kuntze," which was a nickname meaning "little or brave one." This name has its roots in the medieval era, during the 12th and 13th centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Koontz can be traced back to the Rhineland region of Germany, particularly in areas such as Cologne and Bonn. It is thought that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname, referring to someone with a brave or courageous demeanor.

As the name spread across German-speaking regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Kuntz, Kunze, and Kuntze. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that time period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Koontz can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Lusatiae Superioris," a collection of historical documents from the region of Upper Lusatia, which was then part of the Holy Roman Empire. This document, dated 1389, mentions a certain "Henricus Kuntze" as a witness to a land transaction.

Another notable historical figure bearing the surname Koontz was Johann Koontz, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1527 to 1599. He was known for his works on Protestant theology and his contributions to the Reformation movement.

In the 17th century, the name Koontz began to appear in various genealogical records and church registers across German-speaking regions, indicating its continued use and spread.

One prominent individual with the surname Koontz was Friedrich Koontz, a German soldier and military commander who lived from 1768 to 1838. He served in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars and was renowned for his strategic abilities.

Another notable figure was Sophie Koontz, a German painter and artist who lived from 1801 to 1868. She was known for her landscape paintings and portraits, which were highly regarded in her time.

As the surname Koontz spread beyond Germany, it also gained a foothold in other parts of Europe and eventually in the United States, where it has become more prevalent in recent centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Koontz

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

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

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

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