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

Zens, 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 Zens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zens in America

Zens is the 40494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zens surname appeared 540 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 Zens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zens 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 Zens

The surname Zens has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly Germany and Austria. The name first emerged during the Middle Ages, a period characterized by the development of hereditary surnames reflecting familial lineage or occupation. It is derived from a shortened form of either the personal name Laurentius or the word census, which could have referred to a tax or a geographic division.

Etymologically, Zens likely comes from older Germanic languages. The personal name Laurentius, from which Zens may derive, was a common given name in medieval Europe, originating from Latin and meaning "from Laurentum," a town in Italy. Alternatively, the term census referred to a count or enumeration of the population, reflecting the administrative functions in feudal communities. In medieval German script, variations such as Zentz or Zenz appear in records.

The surname Zens is found in historical records in the late medieval period. One of the earliest mentions comes from a 14th-century manuscript in Bavaria, where a Johann Zens is listed as part of the local gentry. This reference illustrates the name's association with regional nobility and land ownership, typical for surnames derived from personal names or administrative terms.

Several historical references to individuals with the surname can be traced back to various regions in Germany and Austria. For instance, Heinrich Zens, born in 1452 and died in 1520, was a notable merchant in Nuremberg, playing a significant role in the city's economy during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Another figure, Maria Zens, an Austrian nun, made significant contributions to her convent in Salzburg during the early 17th century, living from 1602 to 1671.

Records from the 18th century include Andreas Zens, a German musician known for his contributions to the development of folk music in Bavaria. His works from the late 1700s are still recognized today. Elisabeth Zens, born in 1805 and died in 1874, was a pioneering educator in Austria, known for her progressive methods in early childhood education. These individuals illustrate the name's presence in a variety of trades and social roles over centuries.

One prominent figure in the 19th century was Friedrich Zens, a scholar born in 1820 who specialized in medieval German literature. His academic work published in the mid-19th century contributed significantly to the understanding of Middle High German texts and vernacular traditions.

Throughout history, individuals with the surname Zens have occupied diverse roles across German-speaking regions, representing a wide array of professions and societal contributions. This reflects the evolution of the surname from its medieval origins to its present-day presence in various fields and locations in Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zens

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

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

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

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