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

Zondervan, 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 Zondervan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zondervan in America

Zondervan is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zondervan surname appeared 213 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 Zondervan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zondervan 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 Zondervan

The surname Zondervan has its origins in the Netherlands, specifically from the Dutch regions during the period of the late Middle Ages. The name can be traced back to the provinces in the north, notably Friesland and Groningen, where Dutch and Frisian languages and cultural influences were strong. The etymology of Zondervan suggests a combination of Dutch elements, with “zonder” meaning “without” or “lacking” and “van” indicating “from” or “of.” Thus, the name Zondervan could historically denote someone who is “from the land without” or “from the land lacking,” implying a region that was perhaps sparse in terms of vegetation or resources.

One of the earliest references to the name Zondervan appears in local Dutch records dating back to the 16th century. This era was marked by significant population movements, the rise of cities, and the recording of surnames for purposes of taxation and legal identification. Manuscripts from the period mention individuals such as Pieter Zondervan of Groningen in the year 1572, signifying one of the earliest known bearers of the name in historical documents.

The Zondervan name also appears in various parish records and tax rolls from the Netherlands. Harmen Zondervan, another notable figure, appears in records from 1623 as a resident of Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. This shows the surname was fairly established by the early 17th century. Each area where the name Zondervan was found typically reflected its residents' agrarian roots and involvement in trade.

Moving forward into the 18th century, Adriaan Zondervan is documented in Amsterdam's naval records in 1754, indicating the family's eventual spread from northern rural areas to more prominent urban centers and participation in maritime professions. The prominence of Amsterdam during this period as an economic hub of trade and commerce likely attracted many families, including those named Zondervan.

By the 19th century, the name Zondervan had crossed the Atlantic with Dutch immigrants arriving in America. Willem Zondervan, who was born in 1801 and emigrated in 1849, settled in Michigan. This move contributed to the establishment of Dutch-American communities and highlighted the continuous migration patterns influenced by economic opportunities abroad.

In the modern era, references to the Zondervan name also tie back to notable individuals such as Bernard Zondervan in the 20th century, who co-founded Zondervan Publishing in 1931. This company became a significant name in the publishing industry, particularly noted for its religious books and Bible publications.

Throughout the centuries, the name Zondervan has maintained its Dutch roots while adapting and evolving across different regions and periods, marking it as a surname rich in historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zondervan

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

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

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

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