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

Zahnow, 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 Zahnow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zahnow in America

Zahnow is the 61585th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zahnow surname appeared 326 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 Zahnow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zahnow 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 Zahnow

The surname Zahnow has its origins in Germany, likely emerging in the Middle Ages around the 12th or 13th century. The name is believed to have originated from regions in Northern or Central Germany, where the dialects and language influenced the creation and evolution of surnames during this period. It is possibly derived from an old Germanic word, with "Zahn" meaning "tooth." Over time, it could have evolved to include the suffix "-ow," which is common in German and Slavic regions and often indicates a locational origin.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Zahnow or its variants date back to several regional historical manuscripts and records. For instance, the Zahnow name appears in parish registries during the late 15th century in areas of modern-day Saxony and Brandenburg. These early records often varied in spelling, sometimes appearing as Zaano or Zahno, which could indicate slight regional differences in pronunciation or record-keeping errors.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Zahnow is Hans Zahnow, a merchant from Leipzig who was documented in trade records from 1523. His business dealings frequently took him to neighboring regions, suggesting that the family was involved in trade, which was a common profession that involved travel and influenced the spread of surnames.

Another individual of historical significance is Carl Friedrich Zahnow, born in 1705, who served as a local magistrate in the town of Wittenberg. His legal and civic contributions are recorded in municipal archives, reflecting a family that had by this time established a certain degree of social standing and respect.

In the 19th century, the surname Zahnow appears in emigration records as families left Germany for the Americas. One such individual is Wilhelm Zahnow, born in 1824, who immigrated to the United States in 1848 and settled in Pennsylvania. His descendants would later participate in the American Civil War, adding a layer of historical significance to the name within the new world context.

Hermann Zahnow, born in 1859, is known for his contributions to the early education system in Prussia, having been a schoolteacher and later a headmaster. His works in pedagogical publications from the late 19th century provide insight into educational reforms of that period.

Finally, in the early 20th century, we find Margarethe Zahnow, born in 1886, a noted suffragette and women's rights activist in Berlin. Her involvement with various social and political movements of the time is documented in numerous publications, highlighting the name's association with significant historical events of the era.

Overall, the surname Zahnow encapsulates a rich history deeply rooted in the socio-economic and cultural transformations of Germany and beyond, illustrating its enduring legacy through the notable achievements of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zahnow

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

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

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

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