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

Lent, 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 Lent surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lent in America

Lent is the 7652nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lent surname appeared 4,341 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 Lent.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lent 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 Lent

The surname Lent has its origins in the Low German language and is believed to have first emerged in the northern regions of Germany and the Netherlands. It is thought to be derived from the Low German word "lente," which means "spring" or "Lent," referring to the Christian season of Lent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lent can be found in the Osnabrück Monastery records from the late 12th century, where a monk named Johannes Lent is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during this period and may have been adopted by individuals associated with the church or religious orders.

During the Middle Ages, the name Lent was particularly prevalent in the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia in Germany, as well as the neighboring areas of the Netherlands. It is possible that the name was initially used as a descriptive surname, referring to individuals born or associated with the Lenten season.

In the 14th century, the name Lent appeared in various records across these regions, including the Bremian Wardrobe Accounts, where a certain Hinrik Lent is mentioned as a merchant. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its religious connotations and was being used by individuals from different walks of life.

One notable bearer of the surname Lent was Jan Lent (c. 1420-1495), a Dutch painter and stained glass artist from Nijmegen, known for his work in churches and cathedrals throughout the Low Countries. Another figure was Casparus Lent (1550-1622), a German theologian and professor at the University of Rostock.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Lentt, Lente, and Lenten. In England, the surname Lent can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing individuals like William Lent (c. 1520-1585), a merchant and landowner from Kent.

Over time, the Lent surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including Johann Lent (1659-1712), a German theologian and author; Johann Lent (1674-1735), a German painter and engraver; and Johann Friedrich Lent (1731-1803), a German composer and organist.

Despite its widespread use, the surname Lent has retained its connection to its linguistic roots, serving as a reminder of the influence of seasonal and religious traditions on the development of surnames throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lent

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

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

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

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