2000
#120,330
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zlock
A surname derived from a location name, likely of Slavic origin.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Zlock. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zlock 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
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Zlock in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zlock, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zlock
The surname Zlock is believed to have originated from Central or Eastern Europe, specifically within the regions that were part of historical Poland or the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The time period of its origin can be traced back to the late medieval era, possibly around the 14th or 15th century. Given the linguistic characteristics, it is likely derived from Slavic languages, which were prevalent in these areas during this period.
The name Zlock is thought to derive from the Slavic word "złoc," which means "gold." This could imply that the original bearers of the name had some association with gold, either as miners, goldsmiths, or merchants trading in the precious metal. Variations and similar spellings such as Zloch, Zlochov, or Zlocz can be found in old Slavic manuscripts and records, further supporting this etymological root.
Historical references to the surname can be found in old town records and parish registers. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zlock dates back to 1523 in the records of a small village in what is now southern Poland. These records were maintained by the local parish and detail the birth of a child named Jan Zlock, whose family was noted as being tradesmen.
Among notable historical figures bearing the surname Zlock, one can mention Jakub Zlock, born in 1621, a noted blacksmith in what is now Czechia. His craft was highly regarded, and his metalwork artifacts still exist in some museums today. Another early bearer of the name was Anna Zlock, born in 1683 in a region now part of Slovakia, known for her contributions to local folklore and oral traditions.
In the 18th century, records show a Mikolaj Zlock, born in 1705, who became a significant figure during the early stages of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He was known for his political influence and agricultural innovations on his estates. His work in agriculture led to improved yields and enhanced local economies.
In the 19th century, the name Zlock appeared in various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A notable individual named Pavel Zlock, born in 1832, was an accomplished engineer who contributed to the construction of several significant bridges in the region, many of which are still in use today.
Finally, early 20th-century records mention Marek Zlock, born in 1895, who became a renowned artist known for his landscape paintings that captured the natural beauty of eastern Europe. His works were exhibited in numerous galleries and remain part of collections in several European museums.
Though the surname Zlock is not exceedingly common, it has a rich historical background with significant contributions from its bearers across various fields throughout European history. Each instance of the surname encapsulates a personal story that combines to form the broader tapestry of European cultural and social heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zlock
Among Census respondents with the surname Zlock, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zlock 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 Zlock surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.7% · 97
- Two or more races2.8% · 3
- Black or African American1.9% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zlock
Zlock 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
#127,494
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 134
+1 bearers (+0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 7,164 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-27 bearers (-20.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 24,145 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #120,330 | 133 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #127,494 | 134 | 0.05 | +1 bearers (+0.8%) | Down 7,164 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -27 bearers (-20.1%) | Down 24,145 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 Zlock 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 | #127,494 | #151,639 | -18.9% |
| Count | 134 | 107 | -20.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -28.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zlock bearers went from 134 to 107 (-20.1% change). The surname moved down 24,145 positions in the national ranking, going from #127,494 to #151,639.
FAQ
Zlock surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zlock?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Zlock. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Zlock?
Zlock ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 107 people with the surname Zlock. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Zlock.
Has Zlock become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zlock went from 134 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 27 (-20.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #127,494 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Zlock?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zlock, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.7%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%). 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 Zlock in the 2020 Census, accounting for 90.7% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zlock appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (90.7%), Two or More Races (2.8%), Black (1.9%). 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 Zlock (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 Zlock mean?
A surname derived from a location name, likely of Slavic origin. 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 Zlock (0.04 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 common is the surname Zlock?
If you just want to know how many people have the surname Zlock, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.