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

Zepp, 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 Zepp surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zepp in America

Zepp is the 18218th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zepp surname appeared 1,527 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zepp.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zepp 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 Zepp

The surname Zepp is believed to have originated from Germany, with ties to the early medieval period. The name likely comes from the Middle High German word "zäpfe," which means "to pin" or "to fasten." This term was likely used as a nickname or an occupational name for someone who worked with pins or fasteners, common trades in that era.

The earliest records of the surname can be traced back to regions such as the Rhineland and Baden-Württemberg. Variations in spelling were common, including Zeppel and Zep. The surname may have first appeared in historical documents like tax records or property deeds as Europe's feudal system required detailed documentation.

A notable early occurrence of the name is found in a 14th-century manuscript detailing the citizens of Mainz, a significant city in the Holy Roman Empire. During the 16th century, records from Alsace also show the presence of individuals with the surname Zepp, suggesting the name had spread across different German-speaking regions.

One remarkable individual from history is Johann Zeppel, born around 1650, noted for being a prominent merchant in Bavaria. His business dealings brought the name into various commercial records of the period.

In the 18th century, the name finds its way into military records, particularly with Franz Zepp, born in 1734, who served in the army of Maria Theresa of Austria. His valor and commitment earned him recognition and a place in the military chronicles of the Habsburg Monarchy.

The name Zepp continued to appear in historical documents into the 19th century. Augustus Zepp, an influential industrialist born in 1803, is particularly noteworthy for his contributions to early German industry. He played a significant role in the establishment of manufacturing processes that fueled the industrial revolution in Germany.

Migration patterns during the 19th century saw the surname spread to other countries, including the United States. Michael Zepp, who emigrated to America in 1845, settled in Pennsylvania and became one of the early pioneers of German ancestry in the region. His descendants further propagated the surname across other parts of the country.

By tracing these early origins, variations, and notable individuals, the history of the surname Zepp reveals a rich tapestry tied to Germanic roots, regional migrations, and contributions to various historical epochs.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zepp

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

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

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

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