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

Massen, 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 Massen surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Massen in America

Massen is the 141788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Massen surname appeared 108 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Massen.

The history of the last name Massen

The surname Massen has its origins in Europe, specifically within the regions now known as Germany and France. The earliest documented instances of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th and 13th centuries, in regions such as Lower Saxony in Germany and Alsace in France. The name Massen may derive from several old Germanic words, including the Middle High German word "masse," meaning a measure or mass, which indicates a person of significant stature or influence within the community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in a document from 1237, listing a Heinrich Massen in the town of Lübeck, Germany. This suggests that the name had some prominence even in the High Middle Ages. Additionally, the name appears in various spellings over the centuries, such as Masen, Mase, and Maser, depending on the local dialects and the evolution of language over time.

Historical references indicate that the name Massen was also connected with specific geographic locations. In France, there’s a village named Massen in the Lorraine region, historically associated with families bearing the surname. This village itself dates back to the Frankish period, further cementing the long-standing presence of the name in medieval Europe.

A notable individual with this surname is Johannes Massen, a scholar and writer born in 1501 and lived until 1562. He made significant contributions to early German literature and was a contemporary of Martin Luther, the seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. Another important figure is August Massen, a Prussian military officer born in 1810 who became renowned for his strategic acumen during the mid-19th century.

In the 17th century, records from Alsace mention a Jean-Baptiste Massen, a landowner and council member in Strasbourg, born in 1643 and deceased in 1712. During the same era, another significant person was Maria Massen, born in 1686, a known philanthropist who aided in the establishment of multiple orphanages in Bavaria, hinting at the name’s spread from its origin points.

By the 19th century, the name continued to appear in historical records. A well-documented bearer of the name was Friedrich Massen, an influential scientist and chemist born in 1798 who contributed extensively to early 19th-century advancements in chemistry. His research garnered significant attention across academic circles during his time.

Overall, the surname Massen has a rich history marked by various notable figures throughout the centuries, spanning from medieval Europe to the scientific community of the 19th century. Its presence in both German and French regions further underscores the interconnected histories and cultures of these areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Massen

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Massen 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.

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

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

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