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

Zellar, 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 Zellar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zellar in America

Zellar is the 86314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zellar surname appeared 216 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 Zellar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zellar 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 Zellar

The surname Zellar is believed to trace its origins to Germany. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "zelle," which means "cell" or "cellar." This term was commonly used to describe a small religious house or hermitage, indicating that the original bearers of the name might have lived near or worked in such a place. The surname eventually evolved from Zell or Zeller to Zellar over time.

Early records of the Zellar surname can be found in historical documents from the 14th century. One notable appearance of the name is in tax records from the region of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. These records, dating back to 1362, list a Hans Zeller as a taxpaying resident, showing the early presence of the name in this region.

By the 16th century, the surname had spread to other parts of Germany, and variations of the name began to appear in different documents. One famous bearer of the name in this period was Georg Zellar, a noted physician and scholar born in 1580 in the city of Augsburg. Zellar's contributions to early medical science were recognized in several publications of the time, underlining the prominence of the family.

Another historical figure with the surname Zellar is Maria Zellar, a renowned artist born in 1625 in Nuremberg. Her works, especially her intricate wood carvings and paintings of religious themes, were well-received and secured her a notable place in the regional art history of the 17th century.

By the 18th century, some branches of the Zellar family had migrated to neighboring countries. Jakob Zellar, born in 1734 in what is now Switzerland, became a respected watchmaker. His innovative designs and precision workmanship were highly esteemed, and he passed down his craft to his descendants, contributing to the region's reputation for fine watchmaking.

The spread of the Zellar surname continued, with families relocating to the Americas in the 19th century. One significant figure was Johann Zellar, born in 1795 in Bavaria, who emigrated to the United States in 1820. He eventually settled in Pennsylvania, where he became a successful farmer and community leader, helping to establish the town of Zellarsville in 1845.

Over the centuries, the Zellar surname has maintained its presence through various notable individuals and contributions to society. The historical depth and geographical spread of the name reflect its resilience and the diverse paths taken by those who have borne it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zellar

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

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

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

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