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

Zeches, 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 Zeches surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeches in America

Zeches is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeches surname appeared 154 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 Zeches.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeches 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 Zeches

The surname Zeches has its origins in Central Europe, particularly around the regions that currently constitute Germany and Switzerland. The earliest iterations of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, roughly around the 12th or 13th century. It appears to derive from the Germanic personal name Zeche, which was a diminutive form of a longer name incorporating the root "sech" or "zeche," meaning "noble" or "victorious." This aligns with the Old High German word "sig," which also means "victory."

The name Zeches first appeared in records during the 14th century within church documents and local administrative records in southern Germany. Historical manuscripts such as the "Schwäbische Chronik" from the late 1400s include references to a family by the name of Zeches living near the city of Augsburg. Additionally, a 16th-century tax record mentions a Henrich Zeches in the town of Ulm, indicating the spread and establishment of the name through the region.

One of the first notable figures bearing this surname was Johannes Zeches, a cleric who lived from 1510 to 1575. He served in various ecclesiastical roles in Bavaria and was known for his contributions to local government and charity. Another distinguished individual was Friedrich Zeches, a merchant from Nuremberg who traded extensively throughout Europe between 1540 and 1590. His business dealings included trade in spices and textiles, making him a wealthy and influential figure of his time.

During the 18th century, the name Zeches was carried by Johann Zeches (1721-1795), a noted scholar and professor at Heidelberg University. Johann was famed for his work in philosophy and natural sciences, contributing significantly to Enlightenment thinking in the German-speaking world.

In the 19th century, the name became associated with another prominent figure, Samuel Zeches (1799-1863). Samuel was a political activist who participated in the 1848 revolutions across Germany, advocating for democratic reforms and greater civic freedom. His efforts led to his arrest and subsequent exile to Switzerland, where he continued his political activities.

Lastly, Marie Zeches (1875-1952) was a well-known author and poet in the early 20th century. Her works often explored themes of nature and human emotion, contributing to the cultural tapestry of her era. Her literary output included several collections of poems and essays that were critically acclaimed in the German literary community.

Throughout history, the surname Zeches has been borne by a variety of individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields, reflecting the name's deep cultural and historical roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeches

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

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

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

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