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

Zilke, 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 Zilke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zilke in America

Zilke is the 86005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zilke surname appeared 217 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 Zilke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zilke 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 Zilke

The surname Zilke finds its origins in Central Europe, particularly within German-speaking regions. Its genesis can be traced back to the medieval period, roughly between the 12th and 14th centuries. Initially, Zilke likely appeared in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany, Poland, and possibly parts of Austria. The name is derived from an old Germanic word "Zilch" or "Zilk", which may have originally been a diminutive or pet form of a personal name such as Cäcilie or Cecily, meaning 'blind of self-beauty.'

Medieval records indicate sporadic mentions of similar surnames, suggesting Zilke's evolution over time. One of the earliest recorded instances that hint at the name Zilke is from the chronicles of a medieval village named Silkau (historical documents suggest this spelling) found in the region that is now Lower Saxony, Germany. Over time, as inhabitants moved and administrative records were kept more meticulously, the variations of the surname became more standardized.

A 14th-century record from Lübeck mentions a Johannes Zilke, a merchant involved in the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe. This reference reinforces the name's Germanic roots and also highlights its association with trade and commerce.

The surname continued to appear through subsequent centuries across various Germanic regions. One noteworthy individual is Hans Zilke (born 1512, died 1578), an artisan known for his intricate wood carvings in Württemberg, which were highly regarded during the Renaissance period. The name Hans itself was quite common, but it is the Zilke surname that distinguished his artistic contributions and left a mark in historical archives.

In the 17th century, a Dietrich Zilke (born 1643, died 1708) is documented as a notable craftsman in Bavarian records, where he was part of the early modern guild system. His works and influence in the guild provided significant social mobility for his descendants.

Further noting the historical trajectory, Sophie Zilke (1807-1875), influenced educational reforms in Prussia. Her contributions were recorded in various educational journals of the time, and she was a part of the movement advocating for the education of women, making the surname notable among progressive circles of that era.

Finally, in the 19th century, the name appeared in records of American immigration, with a family led by Friedrich Zilke arriving in New York in 1852. Friedrich and his descendants settled primarily in the Midwest, contributing to the spread of the surname in the New World. This migration not only expanded the geographical presence of the Zilke surname but also embedded it into the fabric of American immigrant history.

Overall, the surname Zilke is steeped in a rich history marked by migration, trade, craftsmanship, and educational reform, reflecting the dynamic social and economic shifts of the regions associated with its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zilke

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

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

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

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