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

Zook, 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 Zook surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zook in America

Zook is the 3613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zook surname appeared 9,824 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Zook.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zook 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 Zook

The surname Zook has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Zug," which translates to "move" or "migrate." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who had migrated from one region to another.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zook can be found in the town of Zurich, Switzerland, where a family bearing this surname resided in the 14th century. The name was also prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, which were part of the Holy Roman Empire during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Zook family expanded their presence throughout various parts of Germany, including the Palatinate region and the Rhineland. Some historical records from this era, such as church registers and land ownership documents, mention individuals with the surname Zook.

As the Zook family continued to grow and spread across Europe, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, including Zook, Zuke, and Zuch. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and pronunciation differences.

One notable individual bearing the surname Zook was Johann Zook, a German writer and philosopher born in 1590 in Nuremberg. He authored several works on metaphysics and ethics, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, members of the Zook family began immigrating to the American colonies, particularly Pennsylvania. Among the earliest recorded arrivals was Hans Zook, who settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1700s.

Another significant figure was Jacob Zook (1732-1809), a prominent Mennonite leader and minister in Pennsylvania. He played a crucial role in the establishment of several Mennonite congregations and was highly respected within the community.

In the 19th century, the Zook family continued to grow and disperse throughout various regions of the United States. One noteworthy individual was Samuel Kinsey Zook (1821-1863), a Union Army officer who fought and lost his life during the American Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg.

As the Zook family expanded across different continents, the surname became more widely recognized and established. Other notable individuals bearing this name include Marvin Zook (1894-1964), an American politician and businessman, and Marjorie Zook (1916-2009), a renowned American artist and sculptor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zook

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

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

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

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