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

Zewe, 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 Zewe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zewe in America

Zewe is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zewe surname appeared 229 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 Zewe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zewe 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 Zewe

The surname Zewe is of German origin, stemming from the country of Germany and specifically the regions of Rhineland and Saarland. Its usage can be traced back to the early Middle Ages, around the 12th century. The name appears to be derived from the medieval German word "zewen" or "zeuwen," which means "twin" or "double." This etymology suggests that the name might have originally been used to denote a family with twins or someone who had a twin.

One of the earliest references to the surname Zewe can be found in old German municipal records and church registers from the 13th century. For instance, a Wilhelm Zewe is mentioned in a document from 1256 in the context of land transactions in the Rhineland region. This suggests that the name was already established and recognized among the local populace by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Zewe appears again in tax records and feudal directories. Johannes Zewe, a notable landowner, was recorded in a 1372 tax document in Saarland. His family was known to have vast vineyards, emphasizing the name's association with land and property during this period.

The 16th century sees another prominent bearer of the surname, Heinrich Zewe, who served as a councilman in the town of Trier. Born in 1503 and dying in 1571, Heinrich played a significant role in local politics and was involved in the administration of town affairs. His presence in historical records and municipal documents highlights the increasing prominence of the Zewe family in societal roles.

During the 18th century, the name appears in various immigration records, as members of the Zewe family migrated to other parts of Europe and America. One notable figure is Friedrich Zewe, born in 1725. He migrated to Pennsylvania in 1750 and became a well-respected figure in his community as a skilled carpenter and farmer, contributing significantly to the development of early American settlements.

Another influential person with the surname Zewe is Elisabeth Zewe, who lived from 1801 to 1868. She was known for her philanthropic efforts in Saarland, particularly her contributions to local schools and orphanages. Elisabeth's charitable work had a lasting impact on her community and cemented the Zewe name's reputation for social responsibility and generosity.

Throughout history, the surname Zewe has maintained its presence across various parts of Europe and beyond, with each generation contributing to the name's legacy through various roles in society, from landowners to immigrants, and philanthropists. The family name's origins in the medieval German term for "twin" adds a unique aspect to its history, indicating a potential link to familial characteristics from centuries past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zewe

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

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

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

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