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

Zent, 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 Zent surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zent in America

Zent is the 29528th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zent surname appeared 799 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 Zent.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zent 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 Zent

The surname Zent is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to medieval times, specifically the regions of southern Germany and Austria. The name appears to have originated in areas around Bavaria and Swabia, where German naming conventions were in full-flourish during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "zant," meaning "tooth," which in turn comes from the Old High German "zan(t)," and this suggests that the surname was initially used as a nickname possibly referring to someone with prominent or distinctive teeth.

Historical references to the name Zent appear sporadically in various records. One early instance is found in a Bavarian tax register from the 14th century, where a Hans Zent is listed as a taxpayer in the region of Nuremberg. During this period, surnames began to stabilize and became hereditary, making it likely that Hans Zent’s descendants continued to carry the name in subsequent generations.

The name also appears in the late 15th century within the parish records of a small town in Swabia, specifically in the baptismal register of 1465, where a Conrad Zent is documented. This correlates with the increased use of written records and the formalization of surnames in the Germanic regions.

One notable individual with the surname Zent is Georg Zent, a merchant born in 1503 who played a significant role in trade in Augsburg. Augsburg was a major commercial hub during the Renaissance, and Georg Zent's involvement in trade illustrates the spread and integration of families bearing the name into urban centers of commerce.

Another significant historical figure is Johan Zent, who worked as a cartographer in the early 17th century. His maps and geographical contributions were highly valued at the time, especially in circles associated with the Holy Roman Empire. Johan Zent's work remains a testament to the intellectual endeavors of individuals with this surname.

In the 18th century, the surname Zent appears yet again in military records. A certain Captain Heinrich Zent served in the Prussian army during the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748), and his valor was mentioned in military dispatches from that period.

Early 19th-century birth records show another notable individual, Friedrich Zent, born in 1802 in Baden, Germany. Friedrich was an influential figure in the local political scene and contributed to the liberal movements that were sweeping through the German states during the period leading up to the Revolution of 1848.

The surname Zent, while not exceedingly common, has appeared consistently through centuries of documented history, marking its place within the tapestry of Germanic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zent

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

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

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

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