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

Zenner, 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 Zenner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zenner in America

Zenner is the 22450th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zenner surname appeared 1,146 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 Zenner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zenner 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 Zenner

The surname Zenner has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in Germany itself. The name is believed to come from the Middle High German word "zennari" or "zenner," which is connected to the word "ziener," meaning someone who provides for or a provider. This indicates that the surname may have originally described an occupation, possibly someone who managed or distributed resources like provisions.

One of the earliest references to the surname Zenner can be found in medieval German records. The name appears in various forms, such as "Zener," "Zenner," and "Ziener," showing the fluidity of medieval spelling and regional dialects. These records indicate that the name was geographically clustered around the Bavarian region and parts of Austria during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded individual with the surname Zenner appears in the 13th century. A notable reference includes Henricus Zenner, who is mentioned in documents from the town of Augsburg in the 1260s. This early recording highlights the name’s establishment within German-speaking communities during this time.

Further into history, in the 14th century, records from the city of Regensburg mention a local merchant named Johannes Zenner. Born circa 1310 and active until around 1365, Johannes Zenner played a notable role in local commerce, emphasizing the surname’s association with trade and provisioning, aligning with the etymological roots of the name.

Moving into the 15th and 16th centuries, references to the Zenner surname become more frequent. Georg Zenner, born in 1487 in Nuremberg, became an influential figure in the local artisans' guild. His life and work, which extended until his death in 1541, highlight the surname’s continued prominence within German urban centers.

Another significant historical bearer of the surname was Hans Zenner, a chronicler born in 1540 in Munich. Hans Zenner documented various aspects of Bavarian life and governance in his writings, contributing valuable historical records until his death in 1602.

In the 18th century, the Zenner name spread further across Europe. Joseph Zenner, born in 1720 in Vienna, became a well-known physician and contributed significantly to medical practices of his time before passing away in 1784. This indicates that the surname was not only prevalent in Germany but spread to neighboring countries where German-speaking communities existed.

Finally, the Zenner surname reached the New World, with records of Karl Zenner, born in 1822, who emigrated to the United States in 1845. He became a prominent figure in the German-American community in Pennsylvania, living until 1881, his life marking the spread and influence of the Zenner surname beyond Europe.

Throughout its history, the surname Zenner has been affiliated with a variety of professions and contributions, firmly rooting it in the tapestry of Germanic cultural and social development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zenner

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

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

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

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