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

Zach, 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 Zach surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zach in America

Zach is the 17975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zach surname appeared 1,554 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zach.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zach 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 Zach

The surname Zach has roots primarily in Central Europe and can be traced back to various regions, notably Germany, Austria, and parts of Poland. The name dates back to the medieval period, approximately the 12th and 13th centuries. It is derived from the Old High German word "zocco," which means "twig" or "branch." In essence, the name Zach might have originally been a nickname for someone thought to be slim or slight like a twig.

In medieval documents, variations of the name Zach appear in several forms, such as Zake, Zack, and Sack. For instance, the 13th-century manuscript of the records from the town of Augsburg in Bavaria mentions a person named Heinrich Sack, who could be an early variant of the name Zach.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in Germany is that of Johann Zach, a notable composer and violinist born in Roth, Bavaria in 1713 and died in 1773. His contributions to music during the 18th century showcased the prominence of the name in cultural history. In Austria, another figure, Matthias Zach, is recorded in Vienna's historical documents around 1545. He was known for his work as a merchant, reflecting the common trades associated with the name during this period.

During the Renaissance, Marin Zach, a member of the lesser nobility in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic, was notable for his involvement in the local politics of Prague around the late 16th century. His family coat of arms still exists in local archives, pointing to the historical prestige carried by the name in the region.

The name also appears in Poland with Jakub Zach, a known figure in Kraków’s medieval guild records from the 15th century. He was a master blacksmith, and his craftsmanship helped define the high standard of metalwork in the area during that time. His works and apprenticeships are documented in Kraków’s guild records.

Austrian confidence in the name Zach continued into the 19th century with the individual Karl Zach, born in 1820. He was an influent scientist, contributing to the fields of geology and mineralogy in Vienna. His studies and published works in the mid-1800s provided foundational knowledge which still informs geological research and is a testament to the intellectual legacy associated with the surname.

Throughout Central European history, the surname Zach has been attached to individuals who contributed significantly to their trades and communities. It illustrates a rich tapestry of historical significance, showcasing a name that has been associated with a variety of professions from musicians to merchants to scientists across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zach

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!