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

Zenzen, 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 Zenzen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zenzen in America

Zenzen is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zenzen surname appeared 241 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 Zenzen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zenzen 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 Zenzen

The surname Zenzen is believed to have its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. This surname is primarily derived from the regions of the Rhineland and the Palatinate, known for their dense forests and rolling vineyards. The name may have evolved from an old Germanic word, possibly linked to the root "zen," which in Middle High German means "ten" or could be connected to a job description or characteristic, such as a leader of ten households or a tenth child.

Historical references to the name Zenzen can be found in various medieval manuscripts and church records. For example, an early recorded instance appears in the tax records of the Rhineland in the 14th century, where a Heinrich Zenzen is mentioned as a landholder and a tax contributor in 1378. This indicates that the Zenzen family held a notable status in their community.

Over the centuries, the name appeared in several legal documents and charters, helping to trace the lineage of families with the surname Zenzen. The 16th century saw the emergence of Johann Zenzen, born in 1512 and active as a local magistrate in what is now modern-day Saarland. His legal dealings and decrees were well-documented, contributing to our understanding of the local governance of that period.

In the 18th century, the name became associated with the town of Trier, where one Mathias Zenzen, born in 1698, made a name for himself as a successful wine merchant. Mathias’s business records show transactions across the Rhineland, indicating the family's growing economic influence.

The 19th century brought global migrations, and the Zenzen surname traveled beyond German borders. Johann Zenzen, born in 1824, emigrated to the United States in the aftermath of the 1848 revolutions in Europe. Settling in Pennsylvania, Johann became a prominent member of the local German-American community, and his descendants continued to bear the name with pride.

In addition to these historical figures, the Zenzen surname was carried by Friederike Zenzen, an influential figure in Bavarian society in the late 19th century. Born in 1851, Friederike was known for her philanthropic endeavors, particularly in education and the arts, and her legacy includes the establishment of a local school which still bears the family name.

By chronicling the presence and influence of the Zenzen surname through these historical instances, one can better appreciate the rich and varied history of this particular surname. Through land deeds, business transactions, and social contributions, the Zenzen family has left a notable mark on the regions and countries they lived in.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zenzen

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

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

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

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