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

Zipf, 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 Zipf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zipf in America

Zipf is the 42720th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zipf surname appeared 507 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 Zipf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zipf 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 Zipf

The surname Zipf finds its origins in Germany, specifically within the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The name likely derived from a toponymic source, referring to a specific locality. Zipf is believed to be linked to the town of Siepen in North Rhine-Westphalia, or possibly the term "Zipfel," an old word in the German language meaning "corner" or "nook," likely indicating someone residing at the edge of a settlement.

Old records and manuscripts provide evidence of the surname's usage. The earliest mention of a similar form can be traced back to the 14th century in local Bavarian registers. Historical documents from the period exhibit variant spellings such as Zipp and Züpfe, reflecting the phonetic spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Zipf was Hans Zipf, born around 1450 in Bavaria. His name appears in land transfer records from the late 15th century, confirming the presence and continuity of the surname in that region. Another notable figure, Johann Zipf, born in 1620, was a renowned blacksmith in the town of Ulm, which sits on the border between Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Linguistic changes and regional dialects contributed to the evolution of the surname. The Bavarian dialect in particular influenced the rendering of names, adapting them to local pronunciation norms. This local adaptation is evident in the variant forms found in historical texts.

Several members of the Zipf family gained prominence in various fields over the centuries. Karl Zipf, born in 1755, served as a local magistrate in Baden, gaining recognition for his contributions to regional governance. Another distinguished bearer of the name was Leopold Zipf, a merchant from Munich, born in 1820, who played a vital role in the mid-19th century Bavarian trade expansion.

Maximilian Zipf, born in 1885, contributed significantly to the academic world. His research in physics at the University of Heidelberg earned him a respected place among his contemporaries in early 20th-century scientific circles. The Zipf name continues to hold historical significance through such figures and their accomplishments.

Throughout its history, the surname Zipf has maintained its roots in the German-speaking regions, adapting to various linguistic and historical contexts. The name's endurance is a testament to the family's resilience and the cultural heritage it carries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zipf

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

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

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

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