2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zeluff
A variant spelling of the German surname Zeluff related to the Hebrew name Zillah.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Zeluff. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zeluff surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Zeluff in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zeluff, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zeluff
The surname Zeluff traces its origins to Germany, likely emerging around the late medieval period or early Renaissance, roughly between the 14th and 15th centuries. The primary areas of origin are thought to be within the regions of Westphalia or Bavaria, where settlements were flourishing and surnames were becoming increasingly hereditary.
The name Zeluff could be derived from multiple Germanic elements or occupations prevalent during the period. It might be connected to the word "Zell," which means "cell" or "small monastery," indicating a possible link to monastic or clerical work. Another possibility is its connection to "Sau," meaning "swine," which could imply that the original bearers were swineherds.
The earliest recorded example of this surname is found in a manuscript from 1478 in Westphalia, where a Johann Zeluff was mentioned as a landowner engaged in local agricultural ventures. This document is one of the earliest instances where the surname appears in written form, indicating its use and recognition in the region at the time.
Another early bearer of the surname was Klara Zeluff, born in 1502 in Bavaria. She is noted in historical records as being involved in local trade markets, evidencing the diversification of the surname's bearers into different occupational roles. Her name appears in a 1527 tax record, which provides a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of people during this era.
In 1612, Hans Zeluff, a resident of what is now modern-day Hamburg, appeared in maritime records as a shipwright. His contributions to the shipbuilding industry were significant during a period when maritime trade was crucial for the city's economy. Hans's records highlight the migration of the surname to different parts of Germany and its bearers' integration into various facets of society.
Another notable person is Georg Zeluff, born in 1675 in a small village near Frankfurt. Georg went on to become a well-regarded blacksmith, with records indicating his participation in the construction of several important local structures. His name appears repeatedly in town council documents, underscoring his importance in community development during his lifetime.
In the early 18th century, a branch of the Zeluff family migrated to the New World, with Heinrich Zeluff arriving in Pennsylvania in 1723. He became a prominent figure in the growing German-American community, contributing to local governance and infrastructure. His legacy includes numerous descendants who spread across the newly formed United States.
The surname Zeluff thus tells a rich story of migration, occupational diversity, and community involvement. It provides a vibrant tapestry of historical and social change, reflecting the adaptability and resilience of its bearers through centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zeluff
Among Census respondents with the surname Zeluff, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zeluff bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zeluff surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.5% · 100
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.8% · 3
- Two or more races2.8% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zeluff
Zeluff appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+4 bearers (+3.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 5,400 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-8 bearers (-7.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,498 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +4 bearers (+3.6%) | Down 5,400 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-7.0%) | Down 7,498 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zeluff surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #144,141 | #151,639 | -5.2% |
| Count | 115 | 107 | -7.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zeluff bearers went from 115 to 107 (-7.0% change). The surname moved down 7,498 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #151,639.
FAQ
Zeluff surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zeluff?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Zeluff. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Zeluff?
Zeluff ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Zeluff. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zeluff.
Has Zeluff become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zeluff went from 115 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 8 (-7.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #144,141 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Zeluff?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zeluff, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%) and Two or More Races (2.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zeluff in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.5% (100 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zeluff appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.5%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.8%), Two or More Races (2.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zeluff (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zeluff mean?
A variant spelling of the German surname Zeluff related to the Hebrew name Zillah. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zeluff (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Zeluff?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.