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

Nathanson, 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 Nathanson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nathanson in America

Nathanson is the 15217th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nathanson surname appeared 1,936 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 Nathanson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nathanson 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 Nathanson

The surname Nathanson has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Nathan." Nathan, in turn, is derived from the Hebrew word "natan," which means "he gave." The name can be traced back to biblical times, with several notable figures bearing the name Nathan in the Old Testament.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Nathanson can be found in various Jewish communities across Europe, particularly in Germany, Poland, and Russia. These communities were often insular, and surnames were commonly adopted in the 18th and 19th centuries as a means of identification and record-keeping.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Nathanson was Rabbi Moshe Nathanson, a prominent Torah scholar who lived in Poland in the 16th century. He was widely respected for his expertise in Jewish law and authored several influential works.

In the 18th century, the surname Nathanson gained prominence in Germany, with notable figures such as Mendel Nathanson, a successful merchant and philanthropist from Frankfurt. Mendel Nathanson was known for his support of Jewish educational institutions and charitable causes.

As Jewish communities spread across Europe and beyond, the surname Nathanson traveled with them. In the 19th century, Joseph Nathanson, a Russian-born businessman, played a significant role in the development of the petroleum industry in the United States. He was instrumental in the early exploration and extraction of oil in Pennsylvania.

Another notable figure was Sir Sydney Nathanson, a British businessman and philanthropist born in 1885. He made significant contributions to the field of education and was actively involved in various charitable organizations.

In the realm of literature, the name Nathanson is associated with the acclaimed American author and playwright, Michael Nathanson. Born in 1950, he is widely recognized for his insightful plays and novels that explore themes of identity, family, and human relationships.

Throughout history, the surname Nathanson has been represented in various fields, from academia and religion to business and the arts. While the specific origins of individual families may vary, the name carries a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the Hebrew language and traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nathanson

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

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

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

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