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

Zahniser, 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 Zahniser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zahniser in America

Zahniser is the 40204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zahniser surname appeared 545 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 Zahniser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zahniser 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 Zahniser

The surname Zahniser has its origins in Germany, first appearing in the regions that are now part of modern-day Bavaria. It is believed to have originated in the 16th century. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "zahen," which means "tooth" or "teeth," and the suffix "-iser," which is often added to denote a trade or characteristic. This suggests that the original bearers of the name may have been involved in a profession related to teeth, such as dentistry or tooth-related crafts.

The name Zahniser first appears in historical documents towards the end of the 16th century. One of the earliest records is from a parish register in Bavaria, dated 1598, which mentions a Hans Zahniser, a craftsman noted for his expertise in working with animal teeth to create tools and ornaments.

During the 17th century, the surname Zahniser appears in several additional records across Bavarian towns. A notable individual from this period is Johann Wilhelm Zahniser (1650–1723), a celebrated craftsman known for his intricate tooth-carvings that were highly prized among the nobility of the time. His works are mentioned in various Bavarian court documents, which highlight his contributions to the local craftsmanship.

In the early 18th century, the surname began to spread beyond Bavaria to neighboring regions, including the Rhineland. Andreas Zahniser (1710–1765) is a prominent figure from this era, recognized for his role in the establishment of trade networks that specialized in dental and ivory products. Records from 1740 indicate that Andreas Zahniser's workshops were widely known for their quality and innovation in the creation of these items.

As emigration from Europe to the Americas increased in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, individuals bearing the surname Zahniser settled in the United States. One of the earliest recorded Americans with this surname was Franz Zahniser (1755–1820), who arrived in Pennsylvania in the 1780s. He and his descendants played a significant role in the local community, contributing to its development and prosperity.

In the 20th century, Edward Zahniser (1892–1965) gained prominence as an environmental activist and writer. His efforts in conservation and his influential writings on preserving natural landscapes are well-documented, with many attributing much of the early environmental movement's success to his advocacy.

The surname Zahniser has thus traversed through centuries, evolving from its German roots in Bavaria and branching out internationally, notably maintaining a presence in crafts and trades related to dental work and eventually contributing significantly to various professional fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zahniser

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

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

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

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