2000
#66,073
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 280
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.10
Very Rare Last name
Zindel
Of German origin, a surname referring to someone residing near a ridge or plateau.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 412 Americans carry the last name Zindel. That puts it at #60,581 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 831,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zindel surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
412
1 in 831,928
Census rank
#60,581
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
359
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 359 bearers of the surname Zindel in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 60581st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zindel, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zindel
The surname Zindel has its origins in Germany, specifically from the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name has been present since at least the late medieval period, with its roots in the Middle High German words related to place names and family distinctions. One hypothesis is that it is derived from the personal name Sigiwald or Sigibert, where "Sigi" means "victory" and "bert" means "bright" or "famous," indicating a family of notable status. It may also be connected to the Middle High German word “zinn,” meaning “tin,” suggesting a connection to metalworking occupations.
Early records of the Zindel surname appear in various medieval manuscripts and town registries. One significant document is a 1480 municipal record from the Swabian League, mentioning a Hans Zindel, a local official and landowner in what is today southwestern Germany. This historical reference indicates that the Zindel family was already established and recognized in the region, contributing to local governance and community affairs.
Another important early reference is from a 16th-century church record in Bavaria, where a Jakob Zindel is listed as a church warden in Munich in 1542. These religious records highlight the Zindel family's involvement in religious and civic duties, further suggesting their integral role within their communities.
Historical variations of the surname include Zindl and Zündel. Johannes Zindel, born in 1603, was a notable figure from Augsburg, known for his work as a master goldsmith. His crafts were highly valued across Europe, and he maintained connections with elite patrons and the nobility.
During the 18th century, the name Zindel saw several migrations. Andreas Zindel, born in 1725 in Mannheim, moved to what was then the Austrian Netherlands (modern-day Belgium), where he worked as a merchant. His relocation demonstrated the mobility of the family and their mercantile ambitions, expanding the presence of the Zindel name across Europe.
In the 19th century, another notable figure was Heinrich Zindel, born in 1831 in Stuttgart and known for his advancements in mechanical engineering. He contributed significantly to early industrial machinery development, reflecting the family's adaptation to modern technological advancements.
Into the modern historical record, the Zindel name has continued to appear in various professional and artistic contexts. Oskar Zindel, an eminent German painter born in 1877, became well-known for his landscape paintings and drew considerable attention during the early 20th century for his evocative portrayal of the German countryside.
The surname Zindel retains its historical and cultural significance, with deep roots in medieval Germany and notable contributions from various family members across centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zindel
Among Census respondents with the surname Zindel, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Zindel bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zindel surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.0% · 323
- Hispanic or Latino4.5% · 16
- Two or more races4.2% · 15
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zindel
Zindel appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#91,625
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 201
-79 bearers (-28.2%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Down 25,552 places
2020
#60,581
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 359
+158 bearers (+78.6%)
Per 100,000 0.12
Rank movement Up 31,044 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #66,073 | 280 | 0.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #91,625 | 201 | 0.07 | -79 bearers (-28.2%) | Down 25,552 places |
| 2020 | #60,581 | 359 | 0.12 | +158 bearers (+78.6%) | Up 31,044 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zindel surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #91,625 | #60,581 | 33.9% |
| Count | 201 | 359 | 78.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.12 | 71.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zindel bearers went from 201 to 359 (+78.6% change). The surname moved up 31,044 positions in the national ranking, going from #91,625 to #60,581.
FAQ
Zindel surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zindel?
Name Census estimates that about 412 living Americans carry the surname Zindel. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 831,928 residents.
How common is Zindel?
Zindel ranks #60,581 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 359 people with the surname Zindel. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (412), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.12 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.12 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zindel.
Has Zindel become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zindel went from 201 recorded bearers to 359. That is an increase of 158 (+78.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #91,625 to #60,581.
What does the Census say about the background of Zindel?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zindel, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zindel in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.0% (323 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zindel appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.0%), Hispanic (4.5%), Two or More Races (4.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zindel (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zindel mean?
Of German origin, a surname referring to someone residing near a ridge or plateau. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zindel (0.12 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Zindel?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.