2000
#13,548
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,056
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.76
Rare Last name
Stines
Derived from a place name or a variant of Stein, referring to someone who lived near a stone or boundary marker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,343 Americans carry the last name Stines. That puts it at #14,115 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 146,289 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Stines surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
2.3K
1 in 146,289
Census rank
#14,115
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,043 bearers of the surname Stines in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14115th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Stines, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.1%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (6.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Stines
The surname STINES has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old German word "stein," meaning "stone" or "rock." It is likely that the earliest bearers of this name were associated with occupations or locations related to stonework or quarrying.
One of the earliest documented instances of the STINES surname can be found in the town records of Augsburg, Germany, from the mid-1500s. These records mention a family by the name of Stines residing in the area, suggesting that the name had already been established by that time.
In the 17th century, the STINES name appeared in various church and tax records across different regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. This indicates a widespread distribution of the name across the German territories.
During the 18th century, some notable individuals with the STINES surname emerged. Johann Stines (1720-1789), a German painter and engraver, achieved recognition for his intricate works of art. Additionally, records from this period show the name being spelled in various ways, including Steins, Steinz, and Steines, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.
In the 19th century, several STINES family members made significant contributions in various fields. Peter Stines (1815-1892) was a prominent architect in Berlin, responsible for designing several notable buildings in the city. His contemporary, Anna Stines (1821-1898), was a respected writer and educator who published numerous works on literature and language education.
As the 20th century dawned, the STINES name continued to be carried by individuals of note. Hans Stines (1902-1981), a German engineer, played a crucial role in the development of early automotive technologies. Simultaneously, Erna Stines (1908-1995), a celebrated soprano from Munich, gained international acclaim for her performances in operas and concerts throughout Europe.
While these examples highlight some notable individuals with the STINES surname, it is important to note that the name has been borne by countless others throughout history, each with their own unique stories and contributions to their respective communities and societies.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Stines
Among Census respondents with the surname Stines, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.1%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (6.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Stines bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Stines surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.1% · 1,616
- Black or African American9.6% · 197
- Hispanic or Latino6.7% · 136
- Two or more races3.6% · 73
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 15
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Stines
Stines appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#13,158
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,325
+269 bearers (+13.1%)
Per 100,000 0.79
Rank movement Up 390 places
2020
#14,115
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,043
-282 bearers (-12.1%)
Per 100,000 0.68
Rank movement Down 957 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #13,548 | 2,056 | 0.76 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,158 | 2,325 | 0.79 | +269 bearers (+13.1%) | Up 390 places |
| 2020 | #14,115 | 2,043 | 0.68 | -282 bearers (-12.1%) | Down 957 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Stines surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,158 | #14,115 | -7.3% |
| Count | 2,325 | 2,043 | -12.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.79 | 0.68 | -13.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Stines bearers went from 2,325 to 2,043 (-12.1% change). The surname moved down 957 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,158 to #14,115.
FAQ
Stines surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Stines?
Name Census estimates that about 2,343 living Americans carry the surname Stines. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 146,289 residents.
How common is Stines?
Stines ranks #14,115 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,043 people with the surname Stines. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,343), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.68 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.68 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Stines.
Has Stines become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Stines went from 2,325 recorded bearers to 2,043. That is a decrease of 282 (-12.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #13,158 to #14,115.
What does the Census say about the background of Stines?
Among Census respondents with the surname Stines, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.1%. The next largest groups are Black (9.6%) and Hispanic (6.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Stines in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.1% (1,616 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Stines appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.1%), Black (9.6%), Hispanic (6.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Stines (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Stines mean?
Derived from a place name or a variant of Stein, referring to someone who lived near a stone or boundary marker. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Stines (0.68 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Stines?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.