2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Phenes
Greek surname meaning a landholder or agriculturist.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Phenes. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Phenes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Phenes in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Phenes, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Phenes
The surname PHENES is believed to have originated in ancient Greece, tracing its roots back to the Hellenic era around the 5th century BC. It is thought to be derived from the Greek word "phaino," which means "to bring to light" or "to reveal." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were known for their ability to uncover hidden truths or shed light on complex matters.
The earliest recorded instances of the name PHENES can be found in ancient Greek texts and manuscripts, indicating its usage during the classical period. One notable example is the mention of a philosopher named Phenes of Samos in the works of Plato, who lived from approximately 428 BC to 348 BC. This philosopher was known for his contributions to the field of metaphysics and his discussions on the nature of reality.
During the Byzantine era, the name PHENES continued to be used, particularly among scholarly circles and within the Eastern Orthodox Church. Historical records from this period mention a monk named Phenes of Constantinople, who lived in the 9th century AD and was renowned for his expertise in theological matters and his writings on Christian doctrine.
As the Byzantine Empire expanded, the name PHENES spread to various regions under its influence, including parts of modern-day Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans. In the 12th century, a notable figure named Phenes of Thessaloniki emerged as a prominent scholar and diplomat, playing a crucial role in mediating disputes between the Byzantine Empire and neighboring kingdoms.
Over time, the name PHENES also found its way into the annals of European history. Records from the 14th century mention a French nobleman named Jean Phenes, who was a prominent figure in the court of King Charles V and played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War against England.
Another notable individual bearing the surname PHENES was the Italian painter and architect, Alessandro Phenes, who lived from 1545 to 1612. He is best known for his contributions to the Renaissance art movement and his frescoes adorning several churches and palaces in Rome and Florence.
While the surname PHENES may have evolved over time and taken on various spellings and regional variations, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Greek word "phaino," reflecting a connection to the pursuit of knowledge, enlightenment, and revelation.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Phenes
Among Census respondents with the surname Phenes, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Phenes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Phenes surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0% · 114
- Hispanic or Latino2.5% · 3
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Phenes
Phenes appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+12 bearers (+11.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,483 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +12 bearers (+11.1%) | Up 9,483 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Phenes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #142,049 | 6.3% |
| Count | 108 | 120 | 11.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Phenes bearers went from 108 to 120 (+11.1% change). The surname moved up 9,483 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #142,049.
FAQ
Phenes surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Phenes?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Phenes. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Phenes?
Phenes ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Phenes. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Phenes.
Has Phenes become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Phenes went from 108 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 12 (+11.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Phenes?
Among Census respondents with the surname Phenes, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Phenes in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (114 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Phenes appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.0%), Hispanic (2.5%), Two or More Races (2.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Phenes (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Phenes mean?
Greek surname meaning a landholder or agriculturist. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Phenes (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Phenes?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans have the surname Phenes at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.