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

Zemp, 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 Zemp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zemp in America

Zemp is the 70645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zemp surname appeared 277 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 Zemp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zemp 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 Zemp

The surname Zemp has its origins in Switzerland, particularly in the central region of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The name likely originates from the Old High German word "zemph" or "zembe," which translates roughly to "marshal" or "master of the household." This would imply that individuals with the surname Zemp could have held positions of responsibility or authority within their communities.

Zemp is particularly associated with the canton of Lucerne, where many early records of the name are found. Lucerne, situated in the heart of Switzerland, was a significant cultural and economic center during the Middle Ages. The name has been documented in various tax records, church registers, and official documents from this region. For instance, a Hans Zemp was listed as a taxpayer in the Lucerne archives in the year 1471, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname.

Historical references to the name Zemp also appear in the 16th-century church records, particularly in the registers of births, marriages, and deaths. For example, a Johann Zemp, born in 1523, was recorded in the parish records of Beromünster, a small town near Lucerne. These records indicate that the Zemp family was well-established in this region by the 16th century, with multiple generations bearing the name.

The surname has seen various spellings over the centuries, including Zemb and Zempf, though Zemp remains the most consistent form. In terms of notable individuals, Wilhelm Zemp, born in 1861 and died in 1923, was a prominent Swiss politician who served in the National Council. Another significant person was Hans Ulrich Zemp, an ethnomusicologist born in 1931, who made substantial contributions to the study of music cultures worldwide.

Additional notable bearers of the surname include Maria Zemp, a Swiss painter born in 1893 and deceased in 1978, known for her landscapes and portraits, and Josef Zemp, a Swiss engineer notable for his work on the Swiss Federal Railways in the early 20th century. The name Zemp continues to be a significant identifier in its region of origin, with a rich history that reflects the social and cultural fabric of central Switzerland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zemp

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

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

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

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