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

Uz, 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 Uz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Uz in America

Uz is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Uz surname appeared 133 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 Uz.

The history of the last name Uz

The surname "Uz" is believed to have originated in the Alsace region of France, which historically belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. It is thought to derive from the Old High German word "Uzzo," meaning "owl." This name could have referred to someone who resembled or had characteristics of an owl, or perhaps lived near a place where owls were commonly found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Uz" can be found in a 12th-century manuscript from the Abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland, where a monk named Uzzo is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time, likely among German-speaking populations in central Europe.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records from the Alsace region, such as the "Chartularium Argentinense" (Cartulary of Strasbourg), which lists several individuals with the surname "Uz" or variations like "Utz" and "Utzmann." These records indicate that the name was well-established in that area during the Middle Ages.

One notable figure from history bearing the surname "Uz" was Johann Jakob Uz (1720-1796), a German poet and member of the literary movement known as the "Anacreontic School." He was born in Ansbach, Germany, and is considered one of the most important German lyric poets of the 18th century.

Another individual of note was Johann Michael Uz (1619-1689), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. He served as the court organist for the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and composed numerous sacred works and organ pieces during the Baroque period.

In the 19th century, the surname "Uz" can be found in records from various regions of Germany, as well as in other parts of Europe where German-speaking populations had settled, such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia.

One prominent figure from this time was Emil Uz (1822-1892), a German-born American industrialist and civil engineer who played a significant role in the development of the American steel industry. He immigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and established successful businesses in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

Another notable individual was Karl Uz (1838-1912), a German painter and illustrator known for his depictions of historical and mythological scenes. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich and had works exhibited at various prestigious art exhibitions throughout Europe during the late 19th century.

While the surname "Uz" is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its Germanic roots in the Alsace region of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The name has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including poets, composers, industrialists, and artists, over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Uz

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

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 Uz 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.

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

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

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