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

Zolicoffer, 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 Zolicoffer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zolicoffer in America

Zolicoffer is the 124548th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zolicoffer surname appeared 138 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 Zolicoffer.

The history of the last name Zolicoffer

The surname Zolicoffer has its origins in Switzerland, likely stemming from the German-speaking regions. The name is believed to have appeared during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. It is derived from the Old High German words zol ("a toll or tax") and koufen ("to buy or trade"), suggesting that the early bearers of the surname were toll collectors or merchants.

Historically, the name Zolicoffer has been documented in various forms. One of the earliest records dates back to a 1468 manuscript held in the archives of Zurich, which mentions a Johann Zollichoffer, a merchant. The spelling variations include Zollichoffer, Zolykofer, and Zoulkhoffer, reflecting the name's evolution over time based on regional dialects and phonetic interpretations.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname was Heinrich Zolicoffer, a Swiss military officer born in 1520 and active during the tumultuous wars of the 16th century. He was known for his strategic acumen and played a significant role in the local defense forces. Another early record includes Ulrich Zolicoffer, born in 1593, who was a prominent landowner and town councilman in the canton of Lucerne.

The Zolicoffer name also appears in records concerning migration to the New World during the 18th century. Colonel Felix Kirk Zollicoffer (1812-1862) was a notable person in American history, serving as a Confederate general during the Civil War. His forebears had emigrated from Switzerland to the United States in the 18th century, adapting the spelling of their surname to Zollicoffer as they assimilated into Anglo-American culture.

By the mid-19th century, the name had established itself firmly in various parts of the United States. For example, Jakob Zolicoffer, born in 1818, emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he became a successful businessman and community leader. His descendants continued to bear the name, contributing to its legacy in the American socio-cultural landscape.

Another distinguished individual was Friedrich Zolicoffer, a Swiss botanist born in 1857, whose research significantly contributed to the understanding of alpine flora. He authored several important works on plant taxonomy and was a respected academic until his death in 1928.

Throughout its history, the surname Zolicoffer has retained a connection to its Swiss roots while adapting to new cultures and languages, enriching its legacy as families migrated and settled in various parts of the world. This adaptability has enabled the surname to endure and remain recognizable, even as historical records fade into the past.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zolicoffer

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

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 Zolicoffer 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.

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

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

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