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

Zaun, 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 Zaun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaun in America

Zaun is the 33280th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaun surname appeared 687 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 Zaun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaun 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 Zaun

The surname Zaun has its origins in German-speaking regions, specifically modern-day Germany. The name is rooted in the Middle High German word "zūn," which translates to "fence" or "hedge." This suggests that the surname originally described someone who lived by or worked with fences and hedges, indicative of a rural setting.

The earliest traces of the surname can be found in medieval Germany, where people were often named based on their occupations or the locations of their homes. One of the earliest recorded mentions of a similar surname is from the 13th century when a certain Heinrich von dem Zūne appeared in records. The variation in spelling reflects the phonetic transcription methods and regional dialects of the time.

In the 14th century, the surname began to appear more frequently in public and church records, particularly in regions such as Bavaria and Hesse. Manuscripts from this period reveal the surname often referenced land ownership or the occupation of managing rural boundaries.

One notable figure bearing the surname in the 16th century is Johannes Zaun, a merchant from Nuremberg, born in 1523 and passed in 1579. His business dealings and civic activities were well-documented, providing a glimpse into the life and societal contributions of individuals with this surname during the Renaissance period.

Moving into the 18th century, Karl Friedrich Zaun, born in 1732, was a farmer known for his innovative agricultural practices in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg. His use of the surname emphasizes its association with rural occupations and agrarian life.

In the 19th century, Gustav Zaun, born in 1821 and died in 1896, emerged as a prominent legal scholar and judge in Berlin. His writings on German civil law were influential, marking a transition of the surname into professional and intellectual spheres.

Another notable individual, Helene Zaun, born in 1877 and died in 1943, was a respected educator and headmistress of a girls' school in Munich. Her contributions to women's education highlight the evolving societal roles of individuals with the surname.

During the early 20th century, Hans Zaun, a German physicist born in 1901, made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics. His research, published extensively in scientific journals, underlines the academic legacy associated with the surname.

The surname Zaun, therefore, reflects a rich tapestry of German history, evolving from its pastoral and agrarian roots to notable contributions in commerce, law, education, and science. Its presence in historical records underscores the impact of those who bore the name across various epochs and regions within Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaun

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zaun, 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!