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

Zelnick, 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 Zelnick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zelnick in America

Zelnick is the 72105th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zelnick surname appeared 270 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 Zelnick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zelnick 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 Zelnick

The surname Zelnick has its origins in Central Europe, particularly in regions that are now part of contemporary Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany. The name is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 12th to 13th centuries. It is derived from the Slavic root word "zel," which means "green," potentially indicating a connection to verdant landscapes or vegetation. The suffix "nick" is a diminutive or occupational ending commonly found in Slavic languages.

Historical references to the name Zelnick are sparse, but one of the earliest recorded instances can be found in old Bohemian records from the 14th century. Manuscripts from this period often recorded family names in various forms depending on regional dialects and the scribe's interpretation, leading to variations such as Zelnik and Zelnic.

The earliest recorded example of the name appears in a 1395 tax ledger from the region near modern-day Prague, listing a Jan Zelnik, a farmer by occupation. This documentation suggests that the name was associated with rural, agricultural communities, likely those involved in cultivating or trading in herbs and vegetables, as indicated by the green or verdant etymology.

Another notable historical figure, Jakub Zelnick, born in 1460 and passing in 1530, was a renowned scribe in the Kingdom of Bohemia. His works included transcriptions of religious texts that have been preserved in various ecclesiastical archives. The name also appears in 16th century Silesian records in the form of Piotr Zelnic, who was a merchant prominent in the town of Wrocław.

Further records from the 18th century show Franz Zelnick, a German-speaking inhabitant of the Habsburg Empire, who was a notable craftsman born in 1721 and died in 1791. His guild records from Vienna indicate that the Zelnick family had significant involvement in artisanal crafts, particularly in metalworking.

In the early 19th century, Maria Zelnick, born in 1804 and died in 1867, is recorded as an influential social reformer and philanthropist in Krakow, Poland. Her efforts in establishing orphanages and charitable institutions are documented in various municipal archives.

Lastly, in the realm of politics, Friedrich Zelnick, an influential figure in early 20th century Berlin, born in 1879 and passed in 1942, was known for his advocacy for workers’ rights and his contributions to labor law reforms.

Overall, the surname Zelnick reflects a rich historical tapestry woven through agriculturally centered livelihoods, craftsmanship, and social reforms, with variations in spelling across different regions where historical documents recorded the name in their local vernacular.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zelnick

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

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

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

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