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

Shantz, 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 Shantz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shantz in America

Shantz is the 27581st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shantz surname appeared 873 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 Shantz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shantz 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 Shantz

The surname Shantz originates from Germany, specifically in the region of Bavaria. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Schanz," which means a mound or rampart. The name can be traced back to the 14th century in areas around Nuremberg and Franconia.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shantz can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a celebrated world history book published in 1493. The book mentions a Hans Shantz, who was a prominent citizen and merchant in Nuremberg during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Shantz family gained prominence in the town of Erlangen, Bavaria. Johannes Shantz, born in 1525, was a respected scholar and professor at the University of Erlangen. His son, Wilhelm Shantz (1560-1638), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned theologian and author.

The name Shantz also appeared in various historical documents and records in the surrounding regions of Franconia and Bavaria during this period. Some of these documents include parish registers, tax records, and land grants. The spellings of the name varied slightly, including Schantz, Schanz, and Schantz.

One of the most notable figures with the Shantz surname was Johann Christoph Shantz (1663-1724), a German composer and organist. He was born in Nuremberg and served as the court organist for the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. His compositions, primarily for organ and harpsichord, were highly regarded during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual with the Shantz surname was Friedrich Wilhelm Shantz (1781-1865), a German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and landmarks in the city of Bamberg, Bavaria.

The name Shantz also has connections to various place names in Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. For example, there is a village called Schanzau, which translates to "mound meadow," near Nuremberg. This place name likely derived from the same root as the surname Shantz.

While the surname Shantz is not as common as some other German surnames, it has a rich history dating back several centuries. The name has been associated with scholars, artists, and other notable figures throughout the ages, reflecting its German heritage and roots in the Bavarian region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shantz

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

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

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

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