Panzer
A German surname typically referring to armored combat vehicles or tanks.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,817 Americans carry the last name Panzer. That puts it at #17,896 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 188,638 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Panzer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.8K
1 in 188,638
Census rank
#17,896
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,562 bearers of the surname Panzer in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17896th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Panzer, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and Hispanic (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Panzer
The surname Panzer has its origins in the German language. It is derived from the German word 'Panzer', which means 'armor' or 'protective covering'. The name likely originated in the late Middle Ages or early modern period, possibly as a descriptive surname for someone who worked with armor or had some association with the production or use of armor.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Panzer can be traced back to the 16th century in various German-speaking regions of Europe. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Hans Panzer, a blacksmith from Nuremberg, Germany, who was mentioned in records from the year 1543.
In the 17th century, the name Panzer appeared in several historical documents, including church records and municipal registers. For example, Johann Panzer, a merchant from Frankfurt, was mentioned in a trade document from 1672.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Panzer surname became more widespread across German-speaking areas, particularly in regions such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Prussia. Notable individuals with this surname include Johann Friedrich Panzer (1738-1805), a German entomologist and naturalist, and Georg Wolfgang Franz Panzer (1755-1829), a German painter and engraver.
In the 20th century, the Panzer surname gained further prominence due to its association with armored vehicles, particularly tanks, during World War II. Erwin Rommel (1891-1944), known as the "Desert Fox," was a famous German field marshal who commanded Panzer divisions during the war.
Other notable individuals with the Panzer surname include Katharina Panzer (1627-1705), a German Lutheran writer and hymn composer, and Konrad Panzer (1526-1588), a German Renaissance humanist and educator who served as the rector of the University of Leipzig.
It is worth noting that while the Panzer surname is primarily associated with German-speaking regions, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and cultural exchange.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Panzer
Among Census respondents with the surname Panzer, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and Hispanic (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Panzer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Panzer surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.1%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Panzer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,896 | #17,896 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,562 | 1,562 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.53 | 0.53 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Panzer bearers went from 1,562 to 1,562 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #17,896 to #17,896.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Panzer
FAQ
Panzer surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Panzer?
The surname Panzer holds position #17,896 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,817 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Panzer surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Panzer, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.6%) and Hispanic (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.