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

Zender, 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 Zender surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zender in America

Zender is the 26727th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zender surname appeared 911 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 Zender.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zender 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 Zender

The surname Zender is believed to have its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. It is primarily thought to be associated with the regions along the Rhine River, particularly in the areas that are now modern-day Switzerland and southwestern Germany. The name Zender is derived from an old Germanic personal name Zander, which itself is a diminutive of Alexander, meaning "defender of men."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Zender can be traced back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Medieval manuscripts and local records from the Alsace region show a presence of the name in various forms, such as Czendere and Sander. These records indicate that bearers of the surname were often landowners or people of some prominence within their communities.

In the 15th century, a notable individual with the surname Zender was Johann Zender, born in 1421 and known for his involvement in local politics in the town of Baden-Baden. His contributions to the community and his active role in municipal affairs are documented in the town's archives.

Another significant figure was Hans Zender, a 16th-century craftsman born in 1503 in the region of Basel. Hans Zender's workmanship in metal and wood was highly regarded, and his trade skills were passed down through several generations, making the Zender name well-known in artisan circles of the time.

In the 18th century, Maria Anna Zender, born in 1734 in Freiburg, made her mark as a notable benefactor and philanthropist. Her charitable endeavors, particularly in aiding the poor and funding educational institutions, earned her local renown. Her legacy is mentioned in various ecclesiastical records from the period.

The 19th century saw the rise of Franz Zender, born in 1828 in Zurich, who gained fame as a composer and musician. His compositions, which often drew inspiration from local folk traditions, contributed to the cultural tapestry of his time and are still performed by traditional music ensembles today.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Zender surname had spread beyond its Germanic roots, with descendants emigrating to other parts of Europe and North America. One such example is Peter Zender, born in 1865, who emigrated to the United States and became a well-known figure in the burgeoning field of mechanical engineering. His inventions and mechanical designs are noted in several industrial patents from that era.

The Zender surname, with its rich history and deep-rooted connections to Germanic regions, continues to be of interest to genealogists and historians, reflecting the diverse contributions of its bearers throughout history. The name's recorded presence in various forms and regions highlights the migration and settlement patterns of its early adopters, painting a vivid picture of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zender

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!