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

Zearfoss, 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 Zearfoss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zearfoss in America

Zearfoss is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zearfoss surname appeared 147 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 Zearfoss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zearfoss 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 Zearfoss

The surname Zearfoss is believed to have originated in Germany, likely during the Middle Ages. The name’s roots can be traced to the regions of Rheinland-Palatinate and Bavaria. It is derived from a combination of the German words "zähr" meaning "to endure" or "to be vigorous" and "foss" meaning "fox," which could imply attributes of cleverness and resilience. Variants of the name have been found in old manuscripts and records dating back to the 15th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zearfoss appears in a Bavarian tax record from the year 1482, where a Hans Zärfoss is mentioned as a property owner. During the 16th century, the name appears again in church baptismal records in the town of Koblenz, indicating the presence of the family in that area. Spelling variations in these records include Zärfuss, Zearfos, and Zerfoss, illustrating the fluid nature of surname spellings in historical documents.

Further references to the name appear in the Kirchenbücher, or church books, of the Rhineland area, where a Johann Zearfos was documented in 1594. By the 17th century, records from Rhineland-Palatinate show multiple mentions of the name, indicating the growth and spread of the family. The Thirty Years War caused many families to scatter, leading to appearances of the surname in areas farther afield.

One notable individual with the surname in the 18th century is Dietrich Zearfoss, born in 1745, who was a well-known physician in the Hesse region. His contributions to medical practices were documented in local historical accounts. Another significant figure is Wilhelm Zearfoss, born in 1783, who served as a town mayor in a small village near Mainz. His administrative records and local decrees provide important insights into the governance of the time.

The surname also has links to early American history. Records indicate that Johan Zearfoss emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1742, as part of the wave of German immigrants seeking better opportunities in the New World. He acquired farmland and is recognized in historical records as a significant contributor to the early German-American communities in Lancaster County.

In the 19th century, prominent individuals bearing the surname include Friedrich Zearfoss, born in 1821, a noted artist in Hamburg known for his landscape paintings. Additionally, Clara Zearfoss, born in 1853, was a renowned schoolteacher in Berlin whose educational reforms were influential in shaping modern teaching methods in her era.

Throughout history, the Zearfoss surname has evolved in spelling and geographical distribution but retains its Germanic roots and significance. The individuals bearing the name who contributed to various fields highlight the enduring legacy and diversity of the Zearfoss lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zearfoss

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

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

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

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