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

Pentz, 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 Pentz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pentz in America

Pentz is the 17441st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pentz surname appeared 1,617 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 Pentz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pentz 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 Pentz

The surname Pentz is believed to have originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Penz," which referred to a small coin or penny. This suggests that the name may have been occupational in origin, perhaps given to someone who worked as a moneylender or in a profession related to currency.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pentz can be found in the town of Nuremberg, where a man named Hans Pentz was listed in tax records from the year 1543. The name also appears in various church records and legal documents from other parts of Germany during this time period.

In the late 17th century, a man named Johann Pentz made a notable contribution to the field of mathematics. Born in 1667 in the town of Halle, he studied at the University of Leipzig and later became a professor of mathematics at the University of Altdorf. He published several works on geometry and calculus before his death in 1735.

Another notable figure with the surname Pentz was Wilhelm Pentz, a German military officer who served in the Prussian Army during the 19th century. He was born in 1814 and participated in several military campaigns, including the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Pentz was awarded the Iron Cross for his bravery and went on to become a highly respected military strategist before his death in 1887.

In the 20th century, the name Pentz gained some recognition in the arts. Karl Pentz, born in 1902 in Munich, was a celebrated painter and illustrator known for his depictions of landscapes and rural scenes. His works were widely exhibited throughout Germany and across Europe during his lifetime, and he continued to create art until his death in 1988.

Another notable figure with this surname was Lore Pentz, a German actress and theater director who lived from 1923 to 2007. She was particularly renowned for her performances in classical plays and worked with some of the most prestigious theater companies in Germany, including the Berliner Ensemble and the Schaubühne.

While the surname Pentz may not be as widespread as some others, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and various fields, from academia and military service to the arts and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pentz

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

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

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

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