2000
#133,114
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zoetewey
A Dutch surname meaning "sweet path" or "pleasant way".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 125 Americans carry the last name Zoetewey. That puts it at #150,205 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,742,035 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zoetewey 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
125
1 in 2,742,035
Census rank
#150,205
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
109
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 109 bearers of the surname Zoetewey in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150205th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zoetewey, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zoetewey
The surname Zoetewey originates from the Netherlands, specifically from the Dutch-speaking regions during the medieval period. Historically, the name is associated with the Dutch province of Zeeland, known for its intricate system of dikes and islands. The name Zoetewey is believed to be a toponymic surname, derived from a specific location or geographic feature in the area where the first bearers of the name lived.
Etymologically, the name Zoetewey can be broken down into Dutch components: "zoete" meaning "sweet" and "wey" which can be related to "wei" or "wey," meaning "meadow" or "field." When combined, Zoetewey could be interpreted as "sweet meadow" or "fertile field," suggesting that the original bearers of the surname either lived near or owned a particularly verdant piece of land.
The earliest mentions of the surname Zoetewey can be traced back to the 15th century in Zeeland's local registers and tax records. An early record from 1498 refers to a Jan Zoetewey, a farmer documented in the town of Goes, Zeeland. This record marks one of the first appearances of the name in written historical documents, highlighting its regional significance.
During the 16th century, the name Zoetewey continued to appear in various legal and census records, indicating the presence of the family in the provinces of Zeeland and South Holland. Another prominent figure was Cornelis Zoetewey, a merchant from Middelburg born in 1523, who played a role in the region’s burgeoning trade networks and was known for his contributions to local economic development.
In the early 17th century, the name further appeared in the records of the Dutch Reformed Church. Pieter Zoetewey, born in 1605 in Zierikzee, Zeeland, is noted for his involvement in the church community. His participation in ecclesiastical meetings and religious debates is well-documented, showcasing the family's integration into the religious and social fabric of the time.
By the 18th century, the surname Zoetewey had spread to other regions in the Netherlands, including the city of Rotterdam. A notable bearer from this period was Maria Zoetewey, born in 1741, who gained recognition for her charitable endeavors and contributions to local orphanages. Her life and efforts were recorded in various charitable institution ledgers, reflecting her philanthropic legacy.
In the 19th century, the name continued to hold regional prominence. Hendrik Zoetewey, born in 1827 in The Hague, made significant strides in the field of education. As a schoolmaster, his impact on local educational reforms was notable, and his work was often cited in pedagogical records from that time.
Throughout history, the surname Zoetewey has been associated with various professions and contributions to Dutch society, from agriculture and commerce to religion and education. Its origins rooted in the lush landscapes of Zeeland give it a distinctly geographic and cultural identity, woven into the historical tapestry of the Netherlands.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zoetewey
Among Census respondents with the surname Zoetewey, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Zoetewey 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 Zoetewey surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.1% · 96
- Two or more races5.5% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino4.6% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zoetewey
Zoetewey 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
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-8 bearers (-6.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 17,338 places
2020
#150,205
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 247 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #133,114 | 117 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-6.8%) | Down 17,338 places |
| 2020 | #150,205 | 109 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Up 247 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 Zoetewey 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 | #150,452 | #150,205 | 0.2% |
| Count | 109 | 109 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -8.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zoetewey bearers went from 109 to 109 (+0.0% change). The surname moved up 247 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #150,205.
FAQ
Zoetewey surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zoetewey?
Name Census estimates that about 125 living Americans carry the surname Zoetewey. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,742,035 residents.
How common is Zoetewey?
Zoetewey ranks #150,205 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 109 people with the surname Zoetewey. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (125), 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 Zoetewey.
Has Zoetewey become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zoetewey went from 109 recorded bearers to 109. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #150,452 to #150,205.
What does the Census say about the background of Zoetewey?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zoetewey, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.5%) and Hispanic (4.6%). 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 Zoetewey in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.1% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zoetewey appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.1%), Two or More Races (5.5%), Hispanic (4.6%). 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 Zoetewey (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 Zoetewey mean?
A Dutch surname meaning "sweet path" or "pleasant way". 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 Zoetewey (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 many people have the surname Zoetewey?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.