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

Rens, 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 Rens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rens in America

Rens is the 44356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rens surname appeared 485 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rens 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 Rens

The surname RENS is of Dutch origin, deriving from the Low German word "renne," which means "a runner" or "a messenger." It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, potentially as early as the 12th century, in the regions of the Low Countries, particularly in the areas that are now part of the Netherlands and Belgium.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the RENS surname can be traced back to the 14th century in the city of Leiden, where a merchant named Jan RENS is mentioned in a historical document from 1348. This suggests that the surname was already well-established by that time and potentially had been in use for several generations.

In the 15th century, the RENS surname appears in various records from the Dutch provinces of Zeeland and Brabant, indicating its spread across the region. Notable individuals from this period include Willem RENS, a prominent merchant from Antwerp, who lived from approximately 1420 to 1488.

As the surname gained prominence, it was often associated with locations and place names, leading to variations such as Renshuizen (from the Dutch word "huis," meaning "house") or Rensbrug (from "brug," meaning "bridge"). These variations likely originated from families or individuals who resided in specific areas or near notable landmarks.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the RENS surname continued to flourish in the Low Countries, with several notable figures emerging. One such individual was Pieter RENS, a renowned painter from Leiden, who lived from 1573 to 1638 and was known for his landscapes and portraiture.

In the 18th century, the RENS surname spread further across Europe, with records indicating its presence in areas such as Germany and France. One notable individual from this period was Johann Sebastian RENS, a German composer and organist who lived from 1712 to 1784.

Throughout the 19th century, the RENS surname continued to be prominent in various parts of Europe, with individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in fields such as literature, science, and the arts. Noteworthy figures include the Dutch writer and poet Adriaan RENS (1807-1884) and the Belgian physicist and mathematician Victor RENS (1823-1888).

As the RENS surname spread across continents due to migration and exploration, it also gained a foothold in other parts of the world, including North America and Australia. However, the majority of historical records and notable individuals associated with this surname can be traced back to its Dutch and Low German roots in the Low Countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rens

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

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

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

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