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

Stenger, 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 Stenger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Stenger in America

Stenger is the 7247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Stenger surname appeared 4,601 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 Stenger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Stenger 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 Stenger

The surname Stenger is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the region of Bavaria, where it was initially spelled as "Stenger" or "Stengler." The name is derived from the Middle High German word "stange," which means "pole" or "rod," suggesting a possible occupational origin for individuals who worked with poles or rods, such as fence-makers or pole-bearers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stenger can be found in the "Stammbuch der Nürnberger Patrizierfamilie Holzschuher" (Family Tree of the Nuremberg Patrician Family Holzschuher), dating back to the 14th century. This document mentions a certain Hanns Stenger, who lived in Nuremberg around 1380.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various municipal records and court documents across German-speaking regions. Notable individuals bearing the name during this time include Heinrich Stenger, a merchant from Augsburg, who is mentioned in a trade document from 1462.

The Stenger name gained prominence in the 16th century, with several individuals leaving their mark in various fields. One of the most notable figures was Johann Stenger (1532-1599), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another individual of note was Hans Stenger (1545-1621), a skilled goldsmith from Nuremberg, whose works were highly sought after by nobility and wealthy patrons.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on different spellings and variations. In the Netherlands, for instance, it was sometimes written as "Stengr" or "Stengler." In France, it appeared as "Stenger" or "Stengre."

In the 17th century, the Stenger family gained prominence in the region of Alsace, which was a contested territory between France and Germany. One notable figure from this period was Johann Georg Stenger (1626-1699), a renowned lawyer and jurist who served as the mayor of Strasbourg.

The 18th century saw the Stenger name spread further afield, with individuals bearing the name leaving their mark in various fields. Johann Stenger (1702-1780) was a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious matters. Meanwhile, in the United States, Johann Georg Stenger (1735-1819) was a German-born farmer and landowner who settled in Pennsylvania and played a role in the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Stenger name continued to be represented across various professions and regions. Prominent individuals included the Austrian chemist Hermann Stenger (1847-1923), who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry, and the German-American engineer Karl Stenger (1868-1935), who was instrumental in the construction of several iconic bridges in New York City.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Stenger

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

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

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

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