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

Senn, 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 Senn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Senn in America

Senn is the 6273rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Senn surname appeared 5,448 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Senn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Senn 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 Senn

The surname SENN originated in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "senne," meaning a cowherd or dairyman. This occupation-based surname was commonly found in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and the Black Forest areas.

In the late medieval period, the name SENN appeared in various medieval manuscripts and records. One notable example is the Heidelberg Manuscript from the 14th century, which mentions a "Johann Senn" as a landowner in the town of Rottweil.

The earliest recorded bearer of the name SENN was likely Hans Senn, a cowherd from the village of Oberammergau in Bavaria, born around 1380. Another early instance of the name is found in the Wurttembergisches Urkundenbuch from 1412, which references a "Konrad Senn" from the town of Esslingen.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the SENN surname spread across various German-speaking regions. In Switzerland, the name was often spelled as "Senn" or "Sen," and was particularly prevalent in the cantons of Bern and Graubünden.

One notable bearer of the SENN surname was Johann Senn, a Swiss painter and engraver who lived in the 16th century (c. 1490-1563). He is known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings depicting religious and mythological scenes.

In the 18th century, a German writer and philosopher named Johann Gottlieb Senn (1730-1800) made significant contributions to the field of aesthetics and the philosophy of art.

Another prominent figure with the surname SENN was Nikolaus Senn (1828-1908), a Swiss-American surgeon and medical pioneer. He is credited with introducing antiseptic surgical techniques and promoting the use of modern surgical methods in the United States.

The SENN surname also has a presence in France, where it is often spelled as "Senne" or "Senne." One notable French bearer of this name was Jacques Senne (1592-1657), a Jesuit philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on metaphysics and ethics.

Throughout history, the SENN surname has been associated with various occupations, including cowherds, dairymen, farmers, and later on, professionals in various fields such as art, literature, and medicine. While its origins can be traced back to the German-speaking regions, the name has since spread to various parts of Europe and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Senn

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

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

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

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