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

Zahnd, 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 Zahnd surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zahnd in America

Zahnd is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zahnd surname appeared 297 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 Zahnd.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zahnd 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 Zahnd

The surname Zahnd originates from Switzerland, a country with a rich history of Germanic, Romance, and Latin influences. The name is primarily found in the Swiss canton of Bern. The time period for the earliest references to this surname can be traced back to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th and 15th centuries.

The name Zahnd is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "zahn," meaning "tooth." This occupational surname likely referred to someone who worked as a dentist or had a notable feature related to their teeth. Alternatively, it could also denote a geographical feature resembling the shape of a tooth, such as a jagged mountain or hill.

Historical records show the surname Zahnd appearing in various Swiss manuscripts and records. One of the oldest recorded instances is in a document from 1430, which lists a Hans Zahnd of Bern. These early records were often written in Latin or Old High German, contributing to the variations in spelling.

In the late 15th century, another mention of the Zahnd name appears in tax records of Bern, referencing a family that owned a substantial piece of land in the region. This suggests the Zahnd family was already well-established and possibly held some local influence during that period.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Zahnd is Johannes Zahnd, a Swiss clergyman born in 1520 and died in 1590. He played a significant role in the Reformation movement in the canton of Bern, advocating for religious reforms in line with the teachings of Martin Luther.

In the 17th century, Martin Zahnd (1634-1699) gained prominence as a merchant, expanding his trade routes across Switzerland and neighboring countries. His commercial success contributed to the economic development of the regions he operated in, and his records provide valuable insights into trade practices of that era.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Karl Zahnd, born in 1710 and died in 1778, a noted Swiss inventor. His contributions to early mechanical engineering, including innovations in clockmaking, earned him recognition within and beyond Swiss borders. His work is documented in various technical manuscripts from the period.

In the early 19th century, the painter Wilhelm Zahnd (1795-1864) became known for his landscape and portrait paintings, which were exhibited in several European art salons. His artistic legacy includes numerous works that are still displayed in Swiss museums.

Another prominent figure is Dr. Johann Zahnd (1840-1902), a pioneering medical researcher. His work in the field of bacteriology significantly advanced the understanding of infectious diseases in the late 19th century, earning him accolades from the scientific community.

Overall, the surname Zahnd is deeply rooted in Swiss history, reflecting a lineage of individuals who contributed to various fields including religion, commerce, invention, art, and science over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zahnd

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

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

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

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