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

Zelt, 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 Zelt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zelt in America

Zelt is the 77012th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zelt surname appeared 249 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 Zelt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zelt 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 Zelt

The surname Zelt has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in Germany and the surrounding regions. The name is believed to have emerged around the late Middle Ages, specifically in the 13th and 14th centuries. The German word "Zelt" translates to "tent" in English, suggesting that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who made or sold tents. This fits within the broader category of surnames derived from trades, a common practice in medieval European societies.

One of the earliest records of the surname Zelt appears in the German-speaking regions of the Holy Roman Empire. An old manuscript from the year 1392 mentions a Johannes Zelt, a tent merchant operating in what is now modern-day Austria. Johannes Zelt is one of the earliest known persons to bear this surname, lending credence to the occupational theory of its origin.

The name Zelt also appears in various historical documents and registers across Central Europe. For instance, a Hans Zelt is listed in the municipal records of the city of Nuremberg in 1465 as a tradesman. The fact that the surname shows up in different regions suggests a degree of mobility and spread within the Germanic areas over the centuries.

In the 17th century, records from the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) include references to a soldier named Heinrich Zelt, who served in the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire. Heinrich Zelt's participation in the war was documented in military logs from the period, indicating the involvement of individuals with this surname in major historical events.

The surname also appears in the records of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Yitzhak Zelt, a prominent rabbi, resided in what is now Poland. Rabbi Yitzhak Zelt is noted for his scholarly works and contributions to Jewish thought, and his name can be found in various religious texts and community records from that period.

By the 19th century, the surname Zelt had spread to various parts of Europe, including Prussia and Russia. In 1884, Ludwig Zelt, a composer and musician, was recorded as having performed in several European capitals, contributing to the cultural history of the name. His works and performances were noted in several contemporary music journals of the time.

Throughout history, the surname Zelt has appeared in various forms due to regional dialects and phonetic differences. Early manuscripts sometimes spelled it as "Zelte" or "Zeldt," reflecting the linguistic diversity of the regions in which the name was found. Despite these variations, the core of the name and its link to the profession of tent-making have remained relatively consistent over the centuries.

The surname Zelt continues to be recognized both in historical contexts and within genealogical studies. Its historical presence in Europe provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives and professions of individuals who carried this name through the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zelt

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

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

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

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