2000
#109,915
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 149
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Zentmyer
A German surname derived from the Middle High German "zeinmeijer" referring to an occupation related to tithes or taxes.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Zentmyer. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zentmyer surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Zentmyer in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zentmyer, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zentmyer
The surname Zentmyer has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. It likely originates from the southern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name Zentmyer is derived from the Old High German word "cent" meaning "district" or "judicial district," and "meier" (later becoming "meyer" or "maier"), which referred to a farmer or steward of a manor. Together, the name essentially means "district steward" or "overseer of the district."
Over time, various spellings of the name have been noted, including Zentmayer, Zentmayer, and Zentmeier. Documentation of the surname appears in church records and court documents from the 14th and 15th centuries, reflecting its use among the landed and working classes in those regions.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the Zentmyer surname can be found in a church register from the late 16th century in Baden-Württemberg. Kätherina Zentmayer, born in 1582, is mentioned in church marriage records, indicating the name was already well-established by that time. These records often hold vital genealogical information, shedding light on family ties and migrations over centuries.
Hans Zentmyer, born in 1623, served as a local magistrate in a small district near Stuttgart. Records from the local courthouse in the 17th century document his involvement in adjudicating local disputes and managing communal lands, marking him as a notable figure in his community. His role as a Zentmeyer, overseeing the judicial district, is a direct reflection of the etymological roots of his surname.
In the 18th century, Johann Zentmeier, born in 1705, emigrated to the United States, where he settled in Pennsylvania. His immigration is recorded in ship passenger lists from 1738. As one of the early German settlers in the colony, Johann played a significant role in establishing German farming communities in the region. The name adapted slightly in spelling and pronunciation, becoming more Americanized over time.
Maria Zentmyer, born in 1751, is another prominent historical figure bearing the surname. She was known for her extensive diaries, which provide a unique insight into the lives of German immigrants in colonial America. Her writings offer valuable historical records and have been preserved in local archives, highlighting not only her life but also the cultural and social transitions faced by early German-American communities.
In more recent historical contexts, Friedrich Zentmayer, born in 1825 in Bavaria, became a well-known clockmaker. His intricate timepieces gained popularity throughout Germany and beyond, and several examples of his work are preserved in European museums. Friedrich's legacy is a testament to the craftsmanship often associated with German industry during the Industrial Revolution.
The Zentmyer surname encapsulates a rich history tied to both its Germanic roots and its evolution over centuries through migration and societal changes. Its presence in historical records and notable figures provides a comprehensive glimpse into the lineage and impact of those who bore the name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zentmyer
Among Census respondents with the surname Zentmyer, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zentmyer bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zentmyer surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.6% · 105
- Two or more races3.6% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zentmyer
Zentmyer appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#126,765
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 135
-14 bearers (-9.4%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 16,850 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-24 bearers (-17.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 21,900 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #109,915 | 149 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #126,765 | 135 | 0.05 | -14 bearers (-9.4%) | Down 16,850 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -24 bearers (-17.8%) | Down 21,900 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zentmyer surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #126,765 | #148,665 | -17.3% |
| Count | 135 | 111 | -17.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -25.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zentmyer bearers went from 135 to 111 (-17.8% change). The surname moved down 21,900 positions in the national ranking, going from #126,765 to #148,665.
FAQ
Zentmyer surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zentmyer?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Zentmyer. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Zentmyer?
Zentmyer ranks #148,665 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 111 people with the surname Zentmyer. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zentmyer.
Has Zentmyer become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zentmyer went from 135 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 24 (-17.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #126,765 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Zentmyer?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zentmyer, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.6%) and Hispanic (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zentmyer in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.6% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zentmyer appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.6%), Two or More Races (3.6%), Hispanic (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zentmyer (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zentmyer mean?
A German surname derived from the Middle High German "zeinmeijer" referring to an occupation related to tithes or taxes. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zentmyer (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Zentmyer?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.