2000
#123,314
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Szempruch
Polish surname likely derived from the word "szemrzec" meaning "to murmur" or "to whisper".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Szempruch. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Szempruch 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
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Szempruch in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Szempruch, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Szempruch
The surname Szempruch originated in Poland, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "szemrac," which means "to grumble" or "to murmur." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with a tendency to mutter or complain.
One of the earliest known records of the Szempruch surname can be found in the Parish Register of Tarnów, a city in southern Poland, where a certain Jan Szempruch was mentioned in an entry dated 1589. This record provides valuable insight into the geographical origins of the name, indicating that it was present in the Tarnów region during the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, the name Szempruch appeared in various historical documents, including land records and tax registers, indicating that individuals bearing this surname had established themselves as landowners and taxpayers in various parts of Poland.
One notable figure bearing the Szempruch surname was Jakub Szempruch (1675-1743), a Polish artist and painter known for his religious works and portraits. His paintings can still be found in several churches and galleries across Poland, attesting to the artistic legacy of the Szempruch family.
Another prominent individual was Franciszek Szempruch (1798-1871), a Polish landowner and philanthropist who donated a significant portion of his wealth to establish schools and educational institutions in his local community. His contributions to education and social welfare have left a lasting impact on the region.
In the late 19th century, Jan Szempruch (1856-1931) gained recognition as a renowned Polish linguist and scholar. His groundbreaking research on Slavic languages and dialects was widely acclaimed, and he is often cited as a pioneer in the field of Slavic linguistics.
During the early 20th century, Zofia Szempruch (1910-1988) made her mark as a celebrated Polish author and poet. Her works, which explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, earned her numerous literary awards and accolades throughout her career.
Lastly, Stanisław Szempruch (1923-2005) was a prominent Polish engineer and inventor, known for his innovative contributions to the field of mechanical engineering. His patented designs and inventions revolutionized various industrial processes, earning him recognition both nationally and internationally.
These examples demonstrate the diverse contributions of individuals bearing the Szempruch surname throughout history, spanning fields such as art, education, linguistics, literature, and engineering. While the name may have originated as a descriptive term, it has since evolved into a respected surname with a rich cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Szempruch
Among Census respondents with the surname Szempruch, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Szempruch 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 Szempruch surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.6% · 106
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Szempruch
Szempruch 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
#133,863
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
-3 bearers (-2.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 10,549 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-14 bearers (-11.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,091 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #123,314 | 129 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,863 | 126 | 0.04 | -3 bearers (-2.3%) | Down 10,549 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | -14 bearers (-11.1%) | Down 14,091 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 Szempruch 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 | #133,863 | #147,954 | -10.5% |
| Count | 126 | 112 | -11.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Szempruch bearers went from 126 to 112 (-11.1% change). The surname moved down 14,091 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,863 to #147,954.
FAQ
Szempruch surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Szempruch?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Szempruch. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Szempruch?
Szempruch ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Szempruch. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Szempruch.
Has Szempruch become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Szempruch went from 126 recorded bearers to 112. That is a decrease of 14 (-11.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,863 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Szempruch?
Among Census respondents with the surname Szempruch, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.8%). 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 Szempruch in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.6% (106 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Szempruch appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.6%), Two or More Races (2.7%), Hispanic (1.8%). 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 Szempruch (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 Szempruch mean?
Polish surname likely derived from the word "szemrzec" meaning "to murmur" or "to whisper". 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 Szempruch (0.04 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 last name Szempruch?
If you just want to know how many people are called Szempruch, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.