Stabenow
A German surname derived from the place name Stabenow.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Stabenow. That puts it at #43,885 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stabenow surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#43,885
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
491
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 491 bearers of the surname Stabenow in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 43885th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stabenow, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stabenow
The surname Stabenow has its origins in Germany, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old German words 'stab' and 'nou,' which collectively mean 'new staff' or 'new walking stick.' It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who was known for carrying a new staff or walking stick.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stabenow can be found in the historical records of the town of Lübeck in northern Germany, dating back to the 14th century. Specifically, a merchant named Johann Stabenow is mentioned in a document from the year 1387, indicating that the name was already in use at that time.
In the 15th century, the name Stabenow appears in various records from the regions of Saxony and Brandenburg in eastern Germany. One notable individual bearing this name was Hans Stabenow, a landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Zörbig near Halle in the late 1400s.
As the centuries passed, the Stabenow family continued to spread across different parts of Germany, and some members even migrated to other European countries. For instance, in the 18th century, a man named Christoph Stabenow settled in the Duchy of Courland, which was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the time.
One of the most famous individuals with the surname Stabenow was the German philosopher and writer Johann Friedrich Stabenow, who was born in 1792 in Königsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He wrote several works on philosophy and ethics, and his ideas influenced the intellectual circles of his time.
Another noteworthy figure was Karl Stabenow, a German politician and lawyer who lived from 1835 to 1909. He served as a member of the Reichstag (the German parliament) and played a role in the development of the German legal system during the late 19th century.
In more recent times, the Stabenow surname has been carried by individuals such as Debbie Stabenow, a prominent American politician who has served as a United States Senator from Michigan since 2001. She was born in 1950 in Gladwin, Michigan.
Overall, the surname Stabenow has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to its origins in medieval Germany. While the name has spread to various parts of the world, its roots remain firmly grounded in the German language and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stabenow
Among Census respondents with the surname Stabenow, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Stabenow bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Stabenow surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Stabenow surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #43,885 | #43,885 | 0.0% |
| Count | 491 | 491 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Stabenow bearers went from 491 to 491 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #43,885 to #43,885.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Stabenow
FAQ
Stabenow surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Stabenow?
The surname Stabenow holds position #43,885 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Stabenow surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stabenow, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.