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

Zopf, 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 Zopf surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zopf in America

Zopf is the 78821st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zopf surname appeared 242 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 Zopf.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zopf 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 Zopf

The surname Zopf originates from the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, specifically in the regions that now encompass modern-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The earliest usage of this surname dates back to the medieval period, with some of the earliest mentions appearing in the 14th century. The name itself is derived from the Middle High German word "zopf," which means "braid" or "plait," a reference to a type of hairstyle. This etymological origin suggests that the surname was likely occupational or descriptive, perhaps used to denote a person who was a hairdresser or a maker of braided hairstyles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname appears in a Bavarian land register from 1378, where Heinrich Zopf is mentioned as a resident of the town of Regensburg. This record suggests that the Zopf family was well established in Bavaria during the late medieval period. Another early reference can be found in a 15th-century tax document from Zurich, where a merchant named Hans Zopf is listed among the taxpayers.

Over the centuries, the surname Zopf appeared in various historical records across the German-speaking regions. For example, in 1642, a Martin Zopf is documented as a blacksmith in the town of Salzburg, indicating the family’s presence and involvement in different trades. In the 18th century, a well-known individual with the surname was Johann Friedrich Zopf, born in 1729, who gained fame as an accomplished painter and artist in Augsburg.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Karl Zopf, a 19th-century Austrian composer born in 1827, who contributed to the cultural life of Vienna through his musical compositions. His works were celebrated in regional music circles, and his legacy continued through various publications and performances.

Moving into the 19th century, Wilhelm Zopf, born in 1846, made significant contributions to the field of botany. His research and publications on plant pathogens were highly regarded in the scientific community, influencing subsequent studies in phytopathology.

In addition to these individual achievements, the surname Zopf occasionally appeared in place names and smaller regions bearing variations like Zopfhof or Zopfenberg, indicating areas that were possibly named after prominent families or individuals carrying this surname.

These historical references illustrate the widespread presence and diverse contributions of individuals with the surname Zopf throughout Central European history, reflecting their roles in trades, arts, sciences, and local governance over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zopf

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

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

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

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