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

Zinn, 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 Zinn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zinn in America

Zinn is the 5961st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zinn surname appeared 5,774 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Zinn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zinn 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 Zinn

The surname ZINN originated in Germany, where it first appeared in records around the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "zinne," which means "battlement" or "pinnacle," referring to a fortified architectural structure. This suggests that the name may have been originally borne by someone who lived near a castle or fortified town.

ZINN is believed to have roots in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where variations such as "Zinn," "Zyn," and "Zynn" were documented in medieval records. The name was also found in areas of present-day Switzerland and Austria, likely due to migration and intermarriage between German-speaking communities.

One of the earliest known references to the name ZINN can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a "Heinricus Zyn" in the year 1350. Additionally, the name appears in the Bürger-Buch der Stadt Zwickau, a citizen registry from the town of Zwickau, dating back to the 15th century.

Notable individuals bearing the surname ZINN throughout history include Johann Baptist Zinn (1827-1901), a German Catholic theologian and professor at the University of Bamberg. Another figure was Theodor Zinn (1865-1924), a German architect who designed several prominent buildings in Berlin during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name ZINN was Jacob Zinn, who immigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century. His descendants went on to establish communities in various parts of the country.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname ZINN was Howard Zinn (1922-2010), an American historian, author, and social activist known for his influential work, "A People's History of the United States." His book offered a critical perspective on American history from the viewpoints of marginalized and oppressed groups.

Another notable figure was John Zinn (1938-2022), an American engineer and physicist who made significant contributions to the development of nuclear reactors and nuclear safety systems. He played a crucial role in the design and analysis of the reactors used in various nuclear power plants.

The surname ZINN continues to be found in various parts of the world, particularly in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States, reflecting its rich historical roots and the migrations of those who bore the name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zinn

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

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

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

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