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

Venema, 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 Venema surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Venema in America

Venema is the 25555th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Venema surname appeared 966 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 Venema.

We can also compare 2010 data for Venema 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 Venema

The surname Venema has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first appeared in the 16th century. The name is derived from the Dutch word "vennen," which means "marshes" or "fens," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near marshy or swampy areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Venema surname can be found in the Dutch baptismal records of the late 16th century. It appears in various spellings, such as "Vennema," "Vennama," and "Venama," likely due to regional variations and the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

In the 17th century, the name Venema gained prominence in the northern provinces of the Netherlands, particularly in Friesland and Groningen. There are records of Venemas serving as merchants, artisans, and landowners during this period.

A notable individual bearing the Venema surname was Eelco Venema, a Dutch mathematician and astronomer born in Harlingen, Friesland, in 1675. He made significant contributions to the study of comets and published several works on celestial mechanics.

Another prominent figure was Pieter Venema, a Dutch Golden Age painter born in Leeuwarden, Friesland, in 1644. He is best known for his still-life paintings and portraits, which were highly regarded during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the Venema surname spread to other parts of Europe, including Germany and Scandinavia. One example is Johann Venema, a German theologian and philosopher born in 1698 in Moordrecht, South Holland. He taught at the University of Franeker and wrote extensively on theological and philosophical topics.

The 19th century saw the Venema name appear in the United States, likely due to Dutch immigration. One notable American bearer of this surname was Herman Venema, a Dutch-American civil engineer born in 1846 in Groningen, Netherlands. He was involved in the construction of several major bridges and infrastructure projects in the United States.

Another prominent figure was Dirk Venema, a Dutch-American businessman and philanthropist born in 1841 in Groningen, Netherlands. He founded the Venema Copper Works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting educational institutions and charitable organizations.

Throughout its history, the surname Venema has been associated with various professions, including academics, artists, entrepreneurs, and professionals. While its origins can be traced back to the marshlands of the Netherlands, the name has since spread across different regions and cultures, reflecting the global reach of Dutch migration and influence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Venema

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

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

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

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