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

Lentz, 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 Lentz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lentz in America

Lentz is the 2396th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lentz surname appeared 15,126 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Lentz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lentz 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 Lentz

The surname Lentz has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, which was a part of the Holy Roman Empire at the time. The name is thought to be derived from the Old German word "lenz," which means "spring" or "the season of spring."

In medieval times, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or geographical locations. The name Lentz may have been given to someone born in the spring season or someone who lived in an area associated with springtime, such as a meadow or a place known for its lush greenery.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Lentz can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the region of Swabia, which was also part of the Holy Roman Empire. In this collection, there is a reference to a person named "Heinrich Lentz" dating back to the year 1287.

During the 14th century, the Lentz name appeared in various records across Germany, including the city of Nuremberg, where a merchant named "Johannes Lentz" was documented in 1372. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its initial region of origin and was becoming more widespread.

One notable figure bearing the Lentz surname was Caspar Lentz, a German mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1563 to 1619. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is remembered for his work on calculating the orbits of comets.

Another individual of historical significance was Johann Lentz, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1629 to 1695. He was particularly known for his engravings of religious subjects and landscapes.

In the 18th century, the name Lentz appeared in records from the town of Lehnitz, which was located in the region of Brandenburg, Prussia. This suggests that the name may have been associated with this place name or a similar-sounding location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States can be traced back to Johann Heinrich Lentz, who immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany in 1749. He was among the early German settlers in the region and helped establish a community of German immigrants in the area.

Throughout history, the surname Lentz has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. While not as widespread as some other German surnames, it has maintained a presence in various parts of Germany and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in fields such as mathematics, astronomy, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lentz

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

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

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

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