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

Zebell, 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 Zebell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zebell in America

Zebell is the 52482nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zebell surname appeared 395 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 Zebell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zebell 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 Zebell

The surname Zebell finds its origins predominantly in Germany. The name appears to have originated from the centuries-old Germanic traditions, with roots that trace back to the medieval period, likely around the 12th to 14th centuries. The areas of origin are believed to be within the regions of Saxony and Brandenburg, where Germanic tribes would have used similar surnames.

The name Zebell may derive from the Middle High German word "zabel," which translates to "game board" or "chessboard." This suggests that the origin of the surname could be occupational, referring to a person who made or sold game boards, or perhaps someone known for their skill in these games. Over time, this occupational reference would have evolved into a hereditary surname.

Historical references to the surname Zebell are relatively sparse but notable when they do appear. One of the earliest records of a similar name appears in the 14th-century registers from Saxony, where a Johann Zebel is recorded in a 1365 manuscript. This indicates a possible early variant of the surname Zebell.

Another early example includes the mention of Heinrich Zebell, who appeared in the civic records of Berlin in 1427. His role in the community, possibly as a craftsman or merchant, points to the occupational roots of the name. Historical documents from that period often used phonetic spelling, resulting in variations of the name such as Zabel or Zebel.

In the later centuries, the name Zebell spread beyond Germany. During the 17th century, Andreas Zebell was a noteworthy individual recorded in Dresden, born in 1618 and passing in 1675. Andreas was known for his contributions as a local council member, suggesting the name might have carried some standing in the social hierarchy of the time.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the migration of many families bearing the Zebell name to other parts of Europe and even to America. For example, Heinrich Zebell, born in 1773, emigrated to the United States in the early 1800s, settling in Pennsylvania. His descendants continued to use the name, contributing to the spread and continuation of the surname in the New World.

In literature, we find a mention of Maria Zebell, an author in the mid-19th century, born in 1821 and known for her collection of folk stories from the Bavarian region. Maria's work helped preserve local traditions and dialects, making her a notable figure bearing the surname.

Throughout these historical references, the surname Zebell has carried with it a legacy of occupational significance and a modest role in the communities where it was found. Though not exceedingly common, the name Zebell provides an intriguing glimpse into the lives and occupations of its bearers across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zebell

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

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

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

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