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

Zehnder, 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 Zehnder surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zehnder in America

Zehnder is the 17481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zehnder surname appeared 1,612 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zehnder.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zehnder 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 Zehnder

The surname Zehnder has its origins in Switzerland, specifically from the German-speaking regions of the country. The name first appeared in the medieval period, around the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "zenden," which means "to announce" or "to make known." The surname likely originally referred to someone who was a messenger or a town crier, a position of some importance in medieval communities.

Old records from Switzerland, such as the Zurich City Archives, contain early references to the surname Zehnder. One of the earliest recorded instances is a Hans Zehnder, who was mentioned in official documents dating back to 1350. The name varied in its spellings, with some older documents referring to it as "Zender" or "Zendher," reflecting local linguistic variations and the evolution of the language over time.

Friedrich Zehnder (1450–1525) was a notable figure in Swiss history, serving as a councilman in the city of Basel. He played a significant role during a tumultuous period marked by political strife and economic changes. His contributions to civic life are well-documented in the municipal records of Basel, and his name can be found in numerous legal and financial documents from the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

In the 17th century, the name Zehnder appears in various parts of Switzerland and neighboring regions. Johann Zehnder (1642–1710), a prominent farmer and landowner, is well-documented in the agrarian records of the time. Together with his family, he was integral in developing local agricultural practices, and his name frequently appears in property transactions and wills.

Another significant instance of the surname is associated with Heinrich Zehnder (1768–1832), a Swiss clockmaker renowned for his craftsmanship. His elegant and precise clocks were highly sought after, and examples of his work are preserved in various museum collections. His legacy contributed to the reputation of Swiss precision in horology.

In the 19th century, Rudolf Zehnder (1809–1887) rose to prominence as an industrialist in the burgeoning textile industry. Based in the canton of St. Gallen, he helped modernize textile manufacturing processes, securing international markets for Swiss textiles. Historical business records and correspondence from this period frequently reference his innovations and business acumen.

Hans Zehnder (1900–1965) was an influential figure in Swiss politics during the mid-20th century. Serving multiple terms in the Swiss National Council, his political career is well-documented in parliamentary records and newspaper archives. His advocacy for social reforms made a lasting impact on Swiss legislative policies.

The surname Zehnder, with its origins rooted in the practical role of announcing and communicating within medieval societies, has evolved through the centuries. The historical records of various Swiss regions capture the contributions of individuals bearing this name, reflecting its enduring presence in Swiss history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zehnder

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

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

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

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