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

Zellars, 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 Zellars surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zellars in America

Zellars is the 35203rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zellars surname appeared 640 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 Zellars.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zellars 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 Zellars

The surname Zellars has its origins in Germany, where it was derived from the word "zeller," which denotes someone who lived by a cellar or a small storehouse. This occupational surname first emerged during the Middle Ages. The term "zeller" itself is derived from the Middle High German word "zel," meaning "cell" or "storeroom." The areas where the name Zellars was originally from include the German-speaking regions of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, known for their wine-making and storerooms.

Old records such as tax registers and land deeds often make mention of individuals with surnames derived from Zeller. One of the earliest known examples is found in the region of Württemberg in the 13th century, where a Hans Zeller is mentioned in a 1271 deed. Various spellings of the surname have appeared over the centuries, including Zellers, Zeller, and Zellar. These variations highlight the regional dialects and the evolution of the German language over time.

In medieval times, the surname Zeller appears in various manorial records. For example, a Johann Zellers, born around 1375, is recorded in the annals of Heidelberg as a prominent townsman and pillar of the community. His contributions to local commerce and trade were well noted in the town's ledgers. In the 16th century, another notable figure, Lisa Zellars, born in 1558 and deceased in 1623, was documented in the city of Augsburg as a successful merchant and philanthropist.

As the centuries progressed, several Zellars emigrated to other countries. The record of one such emigrant, Martin Zellars, who traveled to America in 1743, notes his efforts in the New World, notably in Pennsylvania. His descendants spread throughout the United States, influencing the agricultural and industrial sectors. By the 19th century, individuals like Eliza Zellars (born 1819, died 1891) gained recognition, notably as an educator and community leader in the burgeoning towns of the American Midwest.

Lastly, the legacy of the surname Zellars is also marked by individuals such as Otto Zellars, a renowned German painter from Dresden, born in 1856 and deceased in 1929, whose artistic contributions captured the cultural and social dynamics of his time. Over the centuries, the surname Zellars has been carried by farmers, traders, community leaders, and artists, enriching the tapestry of history with their diverse contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zellars

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

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

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

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