Explore the Family Name Nassau
The meaning of Nassau
German, Dutch, and Jewish (western Ashkenazic): habitational name from the town of Nassau, formerly the seat of an independent duchy. The placename derives from Old High German naz ‘damp, wet’ + ouwa ‘water meadow’. History: The royal house of Nassau traces its descent from Dudo, Count of Lauenburg, who flourished between 1093 and 1117. His family acquired the county of Nassau in the 12th century. Prince Willem van Oranje-Nassau, otherwise known as William the Silent (1533–84), was the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain in the 16th century. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Ehud.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Nassau in the United States?
The surname Nassau showed a slight decrease in popularity based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census. During the period between 2000 and 2010, its rank dropped from 76,700 to 84,136, representing a change of -9.69%. The count of people with this surname also declined from 233 to 223, which indicates a -4.29% difference. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, it went down from 0.09 to 0.08, marking an -11.11% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #76,700 | #84,136 | -9.69% |
| Count | 233 | 223 | -4.29% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.08 | -11.11% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Nassau
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that individuals identifying as White made up the majority of those carrying the Nassau surname in both 2000 and 2010, though there was a slight decrease in this group, going from 89.27% to 85.20%. The percentage of individuals identifying as Black showed the most significant increase, rising from 3% to 4.93%. Meanwhile, there was a small rise in those identifying as Hispanic, from 3.86% to 4.04%. Interestingly, the 2010 census recorded a small proportion of people with the Nassau surname identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, which wasn't the case in 2000. However, the data for those identifying as two or more races was suppressed in 2010 for privacy reasons. There were no individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.27% | 85.2% | -4.56% |
| Black | 3% | 4.93% | 64.33% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 4.04% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 3.86% | 4.04% | 4.66% |
| Two or More Races | 2.58% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |