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

Zopfi, 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 Zopfi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zopfi in America

Zopfi is the 68770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zopfi surname appeared 286 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 Zopfi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zopfi 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 Zopfi

The surname Zopfi has its origins in Switzerland, particularly in the German-speaking regions. The earliest instances of the name appear in medieval records from Swiss cantons such as Glarus and Uri. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "zopf," meaning "braid" or "plait," which could have been a metonymic occupational name for a barber or a maker of braids. Some etymologists suggest the name might also be connected to the Old High German "zupfa" or "topf," meaning "Tuft" or "tuft of hair," again linking it to occupations involving hair or fabric.

Historical references to the surname can be found as early as the 14th century. One of the earliest mentions is in a 1387 tax register from canton Glarus, listing a Hans Zopfi, who was a landowner with considerable holdings. Another early reference is a 1462 baptismal record from Zurich for an Anna Zopfi, indicating the presence and distribution of this family name across multiple Swiss regions.

The Zopfi surname appears consistently in various manuscripts and legal documents throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. For example, a notable figure is Jacob Zopfi, born in 1501, who was a known guild member and merchant in Basel, contributing to the local economy and acting as an intermediary in trade routes extending into Germany and France. Another significant name carrier is Hans Georg Zopfi, born in 1634, who served as a local magistrate in the town of Chur and was noted for his legal reforms.

In the 18th century, the name reached a broader public awareness through figures such as Johann Zopfi, born in 1758, who was a prominent scholar and member of the University of Zurich, specializing in natural sciences and authoring several influential texts on botany. The name continued to carry academic prestige through Ernest Zopfi, born in 1823, a noted historian whose works on Swiss medieval history remain references for students and scholars.

Further afield, the name also appeared in 19th-century North America with the emigration of Swiss citizens. One such emigrant was Matthias Zopfi, born in 1865, who traveled to the United States and became a recognized community leader in Wisconsin, aiding other Swiss immigrants and advocating for agricultural development.

Throughout its history, the Zopfi surname has been associated primarily with German-speaking Switzerland and has a rich tradition of individuals contributing to various fields, including trade, governance, academia, and community leadership. The name’s historical roots and occupational associations provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural fabric of medieval and Renaissance Switzerland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zopfi

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

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

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

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