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

Zang, 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 Zang surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zang in America

Zang is the 14252nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zang surname appeared 2,103 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 Zang.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zang 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 Zang

The surname ZANG originated in Germany, specifically in the southern regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is believed to have emerged around the 14th century, derived from the Old High German word "zanga," meaning "tong" or "blacksmith's tool." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or metalworkers.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name ZANG can be found in the records of the city of Augsburg, dating back to the late 15th century. These records mention a certain Hans Zang, a metalsmith who lived and worked in the city during that time period.

In the 16th century, the ZANG surname appeared in various municipal and church records across southern Germany, indicating its spread throughout the region. One notable example is the mention of a Johannes Zang in the parish records of the town of Oberammergau in 1572.

The ZANG surname has also been associated with several notable historical figures. One such individual was Johann Baptist Zang, a Bavarian Catholic priest and theologian who lived from 1765 to 1835. He was known for his work on moral theology and his advocacy for religious education.

Another prominent figure was Karl Zang, a German writer and journalist born in 1846 in Wurtemberg. He was a prolific author and editor, known for his works on German literature and culture.

In the realm of music, the name ZANG is associated with Wilhelm Zang, a German composer and music teacher who lived from 1854 to 1912. He was particularly known for his compositions for choirs and his contributions to music education in his native Bavaria.

The ZANG surname has also been linked to place names and older spellings of locations in southern Germany. For instance, the village of Zangberg in Bavaria is believed to have derived its name from the surname, possibly indicating the presence of ZANG families in the area.

Throughout history, the ZANG surname has been documented in various forms, including Zange, Zangel, and Zanger, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the blacksmithing and metalworking trades of medieval southern Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zang

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

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

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

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