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

Zengel, 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 Zengel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zengel in America

Zengel is the 65244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zengel surname appeared 304 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 Zengel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zengel 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 Zengel

The surname Zengel is believed to have originated in Germany, particularly in regions such as Bavaria and Rhineland. The name is thought to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The term Zengel itself may be derived from Middle High German, with possible connections to the word zangen, which means to grip or to take hold of something. The name might have originally referred to someone who worked with tools, such as a blacksmith or a metalworker, which were common and respected trades in the medieval era.

Historical records mention the name in various forms in early German manuscripts. For example, a 14th-century tax register from Bavaria lists a Hans Zengel, who was a small landholder and craftsman. Another early reference is found in a Rhenish guild's ledger from the year 1423, which mentions a Wilhelm Zengel, a blacksmith by trade. These early mentions provide evidence that the name was linked to artisanal professions and was regionally prevalent.

The earliest recorded example of the name in a written document dates back to 1365, in a Bavarian village register where a Conrad Zengel was listed as a resident and taxpayer. Over the decades, variations of the spelling have been recorded, including Zengle and Zangl, though Zengel has remained the most consistent form. The name has been passed down through generations, often retaining its original spelling.

Notable individuals with the surname Zengel include Johann Zengel (1421-1498), a Rhenish merchant known for his trade in textiles. His grandson, Nikolaus Zengel (1502-1577), continued the family business and expanded it significantly, becoming one of the wealthiest merchants in the region. Another prominent figure was Margarethe Zengel (1684-1741), an early female painter from Augsburg, whose works are still exhibited in German museums. Moving into more recent history, Friedrich Zengel (1803-1860) was a well-respected German mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of calculus.

The Zengel name has also been linked to specific place names. For instance, a hamlet in the Bavarian region, Zengelried, is believed to be named after a family of early settlers by the name of Zengel. This indicates that the family's influence was considerable enough to have a place named after them. Over time, the name has spread to various parts of Europe, maintaining its historical roots and significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zengel

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

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

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

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