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

Zellous, 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 Zellous surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zellous in America

Zellous is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zellous surname appeared 151 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 Zellous.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zellous 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 Zellous

The surname Zellous appears to have its origins in Western Europe, possibly in the regions of what is today Germany or Austria. Records from the medieval period in this area indicate that the name may have originally been derived from the German word "zellos," which means zealous or enthusiastic. This suggests that the surname may have originally been descriptive, referring to someone known for their fervent character or passionate temperament.

Early records of the name Zellous are sparse, but there are indications that the name or similar variants appear in regional manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries. One such early reference is found in a 1432 registry of landowners in the Bavarian region, where a Hans Zellous is noted as a significant contributor to local community projects. This record provides not only a historical context but also an association with landownership and presumably some level of wealth or status.

In the late 16th century, the name starts to appear more frequently in historical documents. For example, a Martin Zellous born in 1568 in the Austrian Tyrol region is mentioned in parish records as a respected blacksmith whose tools and works were highly regarded in neighboring villages. By preserving and passing down his craft, Martin Zellous contributed to the growing renown of the family name.

The Zellous name appears again in historical texts in the 17th century, particularly in military records. A Wilhelm Zellous born in 1625 served as a captain in the Thirty Years' War, fighting for the Habsburg Monarchy. His service distinguished him, and there are letters signed by him preserved in the Austrian State Archives, indicating his communication with higher command and thus ensuring that the name was documented.

Further down the centuries, the arrival of the Zellous family in England in the 18th century brings the surname into British records. An Isaac Zellous born in 1719 is listed in ship registers as a merchant who traded extensively between Liverpool and Hamburg, indicating the mobility and spread of the surname across Europe. His successful ventures in commerce are noted in several trade publications of the time.

By the 19th century, the name appears in various parts of the burgeoning United States, often maintained by descendants of European immigrants. One such example is a Jonathan Zellous born in 1843 in Pennsylvania, who is known from Civil War enlistment records. Serving as an officer in the Union Army, his letters and military documents offer valuable insights into his experiences and solidify the presence of the Zellous name in American historical narratives.

Throughout its history, the surname Zellous has retained connections to its possible Germanic root "zellos" and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zellous

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

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

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

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