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

Zenker, 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 Zenker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zenker in America

Zenker is the 33450th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zenker surname appeared 682 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 Zenker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zenker 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 Zenker

The surname Zenker has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is believed to have originated in Germany, particularly within the regions of Saxony and the areas that were influenced by the Germanic tribes during the early Medieval period, around the 12th century. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "zenc," meaning "guard" or "warden," which was often used to describe individuals who held a position of oversight or protection within a community.

Several historical documents and manuscripts from the Middle Ages reference variations of the name, such as Zencker, Czenker, or Cenker. These variations suggest a phonetic evolution of the name, with slight alterations in spelling depending on regional dialects and the changes in language over time. One of the earliest known mentions of the surname Zenker appears in a 14th-century document from Saxony, which recorded a "Johann Zencker" as a landholder and local official in the year 1372.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name became more prominent as the population in German-speaking regions grew. Notable historical figures bearing the surname include Georg Zencker, a jurist born in 1586 who served in the court of a local duke in Thuringia, and Hans Zenker, recorded in 1643 as a prominent merchant in the trading city of Leipzig. These early carriers of the name contributed to the development of their local communities, often holding respected positions within business or government.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Zenker continued to be associated with individuals of notable accomplishment. Adolph Zenker, born in 1784, was a noted botanist who contributed significantly to plant taxonomy, and his works remain referenced in botanical literature today. His son, Friedrich Albert Zenker, born in 1825, was a renowned physician and pathologist. Friedrich's contributions to medical science include the identification of a disease that would later be named Zenker's diverticulum in his honor. He died in 1898, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of pathology.

Throughout history, the name Zenker has carried with it a sense of duty and guardianship reflective of its etymological roots. This lineage includes influential figures such as Karl Eduard Zenker, a 19th-century historian and author born in 1858, who documented important local histories and contributed significantly to the preservation of cultural heritage in his region. As the centuries turned, the name continued to be associated with scholarly and professional pursuits, maintaining its reputation for diligence and respectability.

The history of the surname Zenker is thus deeply rooted in the Germanic tradition, with a rich tapestry of individuals who have carried the name through various facets of society, making notable contributions in fields ranging from local governance to science and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zenker

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

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

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

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