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

Zell, 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 Zell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zell in America

Zell is the 10520th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zell surname appeared 3,049 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 Zell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zell 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 Zell

The surname Zell is believed to have originated in Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old German word 'zell', which meant a cell or a small dwelling. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived in a small hut or a secluded dwelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Zell can be found in various medieval German documents, with variations in spelling such as Zelle, Zellen, and Zell. One notable mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, where a person named Conradus de Zelle is referenced in the year 1285.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a compilation of records from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, where a certain Johannes Zelle is mentioned in 1349. This suggests that the surname was widespread in different regions of Germany during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Zell name was Hans Zell, a German printer and publisher who lived from 1481 to 1548. He was a prominent figure in the early days of the printing press, and his work helped disseminate the ideas of the Protestant Reformation.

Another notable individual with the surname Zell was Matthias Zell, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1477 to 1548. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and played a significant role in the spread of the Protestant Reformation in Strasbourg.

In the 17th century, Johann Zell, a German botanist and physician, made significant contributions to the study of plants. He was born in 1670 and is known for his work on the flora of Germany.

The name Zell also has connections to various place names in Germany, such as Zell am Harmersbach, Zell im Wiesental, and Zell unter Aichelberg. These locations likely contributed to the spread and popularity of the surname in different regions.

Throughout history, the Zell surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and religious figures, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zell

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

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

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

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