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

Zoellner, 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 Zoellner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zoellner in America

Zoellner is the 18660th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zoellner surname appeared 1,474 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zoellner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zoellner 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 Zoellner

The surname Zoellner has its origins in Germany, particularly from the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It dates back to the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name Zoellner is derived from the Middle High German word "zoll," meaning "toll" or "customs duty." The suffix "ner" is typically an occupational indicator, suggesting that the name likely referred to someone who was a toll collector or customs officer. Variations in spelling over time include Zollner, Zöllner, and Zollner, among others.

Historical records indicate the presence of the name Zoellner in various municipal documents and tax registers. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 14th-century tax register from Bavaria, where a Hans Zoellner is listed as a toll collector. This occupation played a significant role in medieval trade, ensuring that goods entering and leaving a town were duly taxed.

Another early instance is found in the 15th century, where a Matthias Zollner was noted in the records of the city of Leipzig in Saxony as holding a position related to the customs office. Matthias was an important figure of his time, responsible for the regulation and collection of tolls in one of the bustling trade centers in Germany.

In literature, a 16th-century reference includes a Johann Zöllner, a minor nobleman in Bavaria who was responsible for several toll stations along the Danube River. Johann was born in 1512 and died in 1578. His duties in overseeing toll collection contributed to the maintenance of regional infrastructure.

The name further appears in historical texts from the 17th century, specifically in the context of the Thirty Years' War. A soldier named Georg Zollner is noted in military records as having served in the Swedish army as a quartermaster responsible for handling supplies and logistics. Georg was born in 1595 and survived the tumultuous period, passing away around 1650.

Moving into the 18th century, the surname is linked to the world of academia through Johann Friedrich Zöllner, a German theologian and philosopher born in 1753. Johann Friedrich Zöllner made notable contributions to the Enlightenment thinking of his time and passed away in 1804.

Another influential figure was Karl Zöllner, a 19th-century astronomer born in Leipzig in 1834. Karl Zöllner made significant advancements in astronomical research, particularly in the area of photometry – the measurement of the intensity of sunlight and other celestial bodies. His work earned him recognition in scientific circles until his death in 1882.

Overall, the surname Zoellner has a rich historical background rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is associated primarily with the occupations of toll collection and customs services, reflecting an essential administrative role in medieval and early modern society. The name is also linked to several notable historical figures who have made their marks in various fields, from military service to academic research.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zoellner

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!