Explore the Family Name Katzen
The meaning of Katzen
Jewish (Ashkenazic): 1. variant of Kotzen. 2. shortened form of Katzenellenbogen, a habitational name from Katzenelnbogen in Hesse-Nassau. The placename is probably derived from a Celtic tribal name, Chattimelibochi, but was altered by folk etymology as if it meant ‘cat’s elbow’. History: Katzenellenbogen is one of the old Ashkenazic surnames. In Eastern Europe, it was used by rabbinical families well before the mass adoption of surnames by local Jews at the turn of the 19th century. The earliest known bearer of this name is Meir Ben Isaac (c.1480–1565), Chief Rabbi of the Italian city of Padua, who was born in Katzenelnbogen. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Isadore, Chani, Emanuel, Hirsh, Rina, Zalman.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Katzen in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Katzen saw a small decline between 2000 and 2010. In year 2000, it was ranked at 41,995 in popularity and fell to 42,790 by 2010, representing a decrease of almost 2 percent. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname slightly increased from 487 to 506 during the same period, showing a growth rate of nearly 4 percent. The proportion of the name per 100k population also witnessed a slight drop of around 5.56 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,995 | #42,790 | -1.89% |
| Count | 487 | 506 | 3.9% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.17 | -5.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Katzen
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the Katzen surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, there is a visible shift. In 2000, almost all (97.13%) of the people with this surname identified as White, which dropped slightly to 95.06% by 2010. There was also an increase in those identifying as Hispanic, rising from 1.23% in 2000 to 2.57% in 2010, a change of over 108%. In 2010, there were new entries of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those from two or more races, standing at 0.99% and 1.19% respectively. No individuals with this surname identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.13% | 95.06% | -2.13% |
| Hispanic | 1.23% | 2.57% | 108.94% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.19% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.99% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |