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

Zelin, 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 Zelin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zelin in America

Zelin is the 87663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zelin surname appeared 212 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 Zelin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zelin 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 Zelin

The surname Zelin is believed to have originated from Eastern Europe, with significant historical roots in Poland and neighboring regions. This name possibly dates back to the medieval period, when surnames began to be used more consistently in the region, around the 13th to 15th centuries. The distribution of the surname suggests a strong presence in areas that were part of the historical Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Etymologically, the surname Zelin may correlate with the Polish word "zielony," meaning "green." This association suggests a potential connection to the lush, green landscapes of the areas where the surname first appeared. Additionally, in Slavic languages, "Zel" can be related to vegetation and lushness, which further supports this origin theory.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various records and manuscripts from the region. One notable appearance is in the 1420s in Polish municipal records, where a Henricus de Zeline is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use by the early 15th century.

The earliest recorded example in a more modern context dates back to the 16th century. In 1581, a legal document from Krakow mentioned a merchant named Jakub Zelin, indicating the surname's presence in urban centers as well as its involvement in commerce and trade.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Zelin. One such figure is Tadeusz Zelin, a 17th-century Polish noble, who played a role in local governance. His contributions are recorded in manuscripts from 1645. Another person of note is Maria Zelin, an 18th-century artist from Warsaw, whose works are still studied for their unique style and cultural significance.

In the 19th century, the name continued to appear in historical records. Jan Zelin (1811–1883) was a noted scholar and translator, whose works contributed significantly to Polish literature and education. Around the same period, Stanislaw Zelin, a revolutionary in the 1830s, was involved in the Polish November Uprising, demonstrating the family's ongoing engagement in significant historical events.

In more recent historical contexts, Henryk Zelin, born in 1897, was a figure involved in the early 20th-century political movements in Eastern Europe. His participation in shaping policies during the interwar period is well-documented, adding to the surname's storied presence in European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zelin

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

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

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

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