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

Zentner, 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 Zentner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zentner in America

Zentner is the 24404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zentner surname appeared 1,026 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 Zentner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zentner 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 Zentner

The surname Zentner has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically in Germany and Austria. The name is derived from the Middle High German word “zentner” which referred to a unit of weight approximately equivalent to 100 pounds or 50 kilograms. This suggests that the name might have been occupational in origin, likely referring to someone who measured or dealt with weight, such as a merchant or a market inspector.

The earliest references to the name can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, particularly from regions such as Bavaria and Austria, show instances of similar spellings like Zentner and Zehner, indicating a lineage linked to professions tied to commerce and trade. One of the earliest documented mentions is from a 1370 manuscript found in Bavaria, where a Heinrich Zentner was recorded as a local merchant.

In the 16th century, the name Zentner appears in various town registers and tax records across Germanic regions. A notable figure during this period was Hans Zentner, born in 1573 in Nuremberg, who was an influential guild master involved in the trading of grains and spices. His prominence in local trade made the Zentner name well-known in merchant circles.

Another significant historical figure bearing the name was Johann Zentner, born in 1658 and who died in 1725. He was a scholar and theologian from Vienna and authored several religious treatises that were widely read in the early 18th century. His works contributed to the theological debates of the time, further cementing the name's presence in intellectual circles.

By the 18th century, variations and similar spellings of Zentner could be found in numerous other records. For example, a Maria Zentner is documented in marriage records from 1745 in the Mannheim region. These records are critical in tracing demographic movements and the spread of the surname across the continent.

In the 19th century, one of the notable bearers of the name was Carl Zentner, born in 1811 and died in 1885. He was a notable industrialist from Berlin who was instrumental in establishing several manufacturing businesses, contributing significantly to the industrial development of the region. His entrepreneurial ventures showcased the family's ongoing involvement in trade and commerce that dated back several centuries.

The Zentner surname, with its roots in medieval trade and market occupations, reflects an essential part of the social fabric of German-speaking Europe. The name's historical records and the individuals who carried it underscore a legacy tied to economic and intellectual contributions over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zentner

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!