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

Zeitz, 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 Zeitz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeitz in America

Zeitz is the 23647th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeitz surname appeared 1,072 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 Zeitz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeitz 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 Zeitz

The surname Zeitz originates from Germany and is believed to have appeared as early as the Middle Ages. The name is primarily associated with the town of Zeitz, located in the eastern part of Germany in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The town itself has ancient roots, dating back to at least the 10th century, when it was first mentioned in historical documents.

The origins of the surname Zeitz can be traced to the Old High German word "ziht," which means "feature" or "character." It could also be linked to the Slavic root "seč," meaning "to cut." This etymological background suggests that the name may have been descriptive, perhaps referring to a trait or profession related to cutting or shaping.

Historical references to the surname Zeitz can be found in various medieval manuscripts and documents. One such example includes a 14th-century entry in the records of the town of Zeitz, where a Heinrich von Zeitz is mentioned. Heinrich appears to have been a notable figure in local governance and contributed to the development of the region.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zeitz as a family name appears in the late 15th century with a Johann Zeitz, who was a prominent merchant in the city of Leipzig, not far from the town of Zeitz. Johann's mercantile activities and interactions are well documented in the trade records of the Hanseatic League during that period.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Zeitz is Melchior Zeitz, a theologian and writer born around 1510. Melchior was active during the Protestant Reformation and contributed several important theological texts, which influenced religious thought and debates in the Holy Roman Empire. His works are still studied by historians of religion today.

In the 17th century, the name Zeitz appeared in the military sphere, with a Captain Wilhelm Zeitz who served in the Thirty Years' War. Wilhelm was known for his strategic acumen and leadership during several key battles, leaving a lasting legacy in military history.

The 19th century saw the emergence of August Zeitz, a noted historian and archivist born in 1830. August dedicated his career to preserving the historical records of Saxony-Anhalt and published several volumes on local history, providing invaluable insights into the region's past.

Oscar Zeitz, born in 1877, was a distinguished musician and composer during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He made significant contributions to the classical music scene, with several of his compositions being performed in major European concert halls.

Finally, Richard Zeitz, born in 1901, was a groundbreaking engineer who pioneered advancements in automotive technology during the early to mid-20th century. His innovations in engine design and efficiency earned him recognition in the field and numerous patents, solidifying the Zeitz name in the annals of engineering history.

Overall, the surname Zeitz has a rich and varied history, with its bearers making significant contributions in diverse fields such as commerce, theology, military, history, music, and engineering throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeitz

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!