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

Zenz, 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 Zenz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zenz in America

Zenz is the 36246th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zenz surname appeared 618 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 Zenz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zenz 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 Zenz

The surname Zenz has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly within Germany and Austria. The name is first noted during the medieval period, likely emerging around the 12th to 14th centuries. It is thought to derive from the Germanic personal name Zenzo, a diminutive form of names that began with the element “Sin-” or “Zin-” which meant "victory" or "protection" respectively in Old High German. The Zinzendorf family, which means "village of Sinzo," can be linked to the etymology of Zenz, indicating how familial and regional names were often intertwined.

The earliest documented example of the surname Zenz appears in records from Bavaria in the early 15th century. A notable reference is found in the tax registers of Nuremberg, which list a Georg Zenz in 1410, indicating that the name had already been established within the region by that time. Variants of the name, such as Zentz or Zans, have been noted in various documents, though Zenz is the most enduring form.

By the mid-16th century, the name begins to appear in Austrian records, suggesting migration or expansion of the family. An example is Lucas Zenz, recorded in village registers as a farmer in Salzburg in 1567. This instance provides evidence of the name's presence and the agricultural lifestyle that many with this surname led.

Towards the end of the 17th century, the name Zenz appears in military records. Johann Zenz, born in 1668, served as a sergeant in the Imperial Austrian Army during the War of the Spanish Succession. By this time, the surname had spread into military contexts, showing the diversity of professions held by individuals named Zenz.

In the early 19th century, the family name appears in more civic records. Joseph Anton Zenz, born in 1799 in Vienna, became a well-known merchant and local politician, contributing to the social and economic development of the area. His prominence illustrates the socio-economic rise of some Zenz families during the Industrial Revolution.

Another notable individual is Franz Xaver Zenz, born in 1871 in Munich, who earned recognition for his contributions to the arts as a painter and sculptor. His works, rich in cultural and historical significance, further highlight the versatility and achievements of those bearing the Zenz surname throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zenz

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

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

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

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