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

Sensenig, 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 Sensenig surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sensenig in America

Sensenig is the 10826th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sensenig surname appeared 2,942 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 Sensenig.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sensenig 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 Sensenig

The surname SENSENIG has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated in the Rhineland region of Germany, specifically in the areas around the towns of Sensenich and Sinsernich. The name is derived from the Old German word "sinsling," which means "one from the place of the small stream."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SENSENIG surname can be found in the church records of the village of Sensenich, dating back to 1585. These records mention a certain Hans Sensenig, who was a farmer and landowner in the area. It is likely that this individual and his family were among the first to bear the surname.

In the 17th century, the SENSENIG name began to spread beyond the Rhineland region as families migrated to other parts of Germany and neighboring countries. Some SENSENIGS settled in the Palatinate region, while others ventured as far as Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The earliest known SENSENIG to emigrate from Europe to the American colonies was Hans Jerg Sensenig, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737. He was part of the wave of German Palatine immigrants who settled in the fertile farmlands of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Hans Jerg Sensenig and his descendants played a significant role in the early development of the Pennsylvania Dutch community.

One notable figure from the SENSENIG family was John Sensenig (1771-1846), a farmer and businessman from Warwick Township, Lancaster County. He was a prominent member of the Mennonite community and served as a deacon in the local church. Another important SENSENIG was Abraham Sensenig (1798-1874), who was a successful farmer and landowner in West Earl Township, Lancaster County.

In the 19th century, some SENSENIGS ventured westward, following the frontier as it expanded across the United States. One such pioneer was Christian Sensenig (1815-1891), who settled in Elkhart County, Indiana, and became a prosperous farmer and community leader.

Another noteworthy SENSENIG was Samuel Sensenig (1842-1912), a prominent educator and founder of the Sensenig Academy in Lititz, Pennsylvania. This private school was renowned for its rigorous academic standards and attracted students from across the region.

As the SENSENIG surname spread throughout the United States and Canada, it maintained its strong ties to its German roots and the Mennonite faith. Today, the name can still be found in significant numbers in areas with large populations of Pennsylvania Dutch and Mennonite descendants, such as Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and various communities in Ohio and Indiana.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sensenig

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

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

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

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