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

Zbinden, 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 Zbinden surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zbinden in America

Zbinden is the 49824th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zbinden surname appeared 421 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 Zbinden.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zbinden 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 Zbinden

The surname Zbinden originates from Switzerland, a country known for its diverse linguistic and cultural heritage. The name first emerged in the medieval period, particularly in the Canton of Bern, an area known for its Alemannic German-speaking population. The name Zbinden is derived from the Alemannic dialect, and it is believed to have customarily referred to someone who resided in a valley or a low-lying area, pulling from the old German word "bin," which loosely translates to "within" or "among."

The earliest recorded instances of the Zbinden surname appear in the 13th century. One of the first mentions of this name is found in historical records from 1292, where a Rudolphus Zbinden appears in a tax register in the region of Emmental. These records were meticulously maintained and provide insight into the socio-economic status of individuals carrying the surname.

One prominent historical figure bearing the surname was Hans Zbinden, born around 1450, who held a notable position as a town council member in Bern. He participated actively in various civic duties, contributing to the local governance of the period. The name also appears in religious contexts, with records indicating that a Father Johann Zbinden was a respected parish priest in the late 16th century, specifically around 1580, in the small village of Guggisberg.

Throughout the centuries, the name maintained its presence with minimal variation in spelling, largely due to the relatively isolated nature of the Bernese Oberland region. In the 17th century, a well-documented individual, Maria Zbinden, born in 1632, managed significant agricultural estates and was known for her generous support of the local church in Frutigen. Her contributions to the local economy and the church's coffers are recorded in municipal records from 1675.

Another noteworthy Zbinden was Samuel Zbinden, who was born in 1725. He gained prominence as an early industrialist who established one of the first textile workshops in the Bernese Highlands, which provided employment and stimulated the local economy. His activities are detailed in early 18th-century commercial records preserved in the Bern State Archives.

More recently, the surname gained some literary fame through the works of Jürg Zbinden, a well-regarded Swiss author and playwright born in 1936. His contributions to Swiss literature include several plays and novels that reflect the culture and traditions of the Bernese people. His works have been archived in Swiss national libraries and continue to be studied for their cultural significance.

The surname Zbinden remains distinctly Swiss, deeply rooted in the historical and geographical tapestry of the Canton of Bern. Through centuries, individuals bearing this surname have played various roles, from civic leaders and clergy to industrial pioneers and literary figures, each contributing to the rich history of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zbinden

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

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

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

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