Zornes last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zornes

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Slavic element zor meaning "radiant" or "bright."

Zornes, 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 Zornes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zornes in America

Zornes is the 17502nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zornes surname appeared 1,610 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zornes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zornes 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 17502 16119 8.23%
Count 1,610 1,650 -2.45%
Proportion per 100k 0.55 0.61 -10.34%

The history of the last name Zornes

The surname Zornes has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically from parts of Germany and Austria. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The areas most commonly associated with the Zornes surname include Bavaria and the regions along the Rhine River. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "zorn," meaning "wrath" or "anger," often used to describe a person with a fiery temper or a combative nature.

The etymology of Zornes shows its roots firmly planted in the Germanic linguistic tradition. Similar spellings from old German script include Zorne and Zorn, the latter being a more common variant. The name Zorn itself appears in medieval manuscripts and local records in various regions, often denoting people in feudal or martial roles.

One of the earliest historical references to the name appears in the feudal records of Bavaria in the late 13th century. A notable figure is Heinrich Zorn, recorded in 1288 as a landowner and knight in the service of the Bavarian Duke. The "es" suffix found in Zornes likely denotes a possessive form, perhaps indicating "son of Zorn."

Another significant example is Johannes Zorn, a renowned herbalist and botanist from Germany, born in 1739 and passing in 1799. His works in botany have been well-documented, and his surname signifies a lineage of possibly noble or notable stature. His contributions to plant taxonomy are still referenced in scientific circles today.

In the context of Austria, the Zornes surname can be traced to early municipal records of Vienna in the 15th century. Franz Zornes is one such name found in the 1470s, a merchant who engaged in the trade of textiles and leather goods. His business dealings have been recorded in the city archives, providing insights into the economic activities of the period.

Another bearer of the name is Maria Zornes, born in 1602 in Salzburg, who is documented in parish records as a midwife. Her services were highly sought after, making her a revered figure in her community. The Zornes surname appears in multiple baptism and marriage documents from this era, indicating a well-established presence.

During the 18th century, the name appeared in several parts of the German states, notably in Hessen. Karl Zornes, born in 1775, served as a local magistrate in Kassel and contributed to civic reforms. His administrative skills earned him a place in the annals of the region's legal history, as noted in local court records.

Friedrich Zornes, born in 1846 in the Rhineland area, made his mark as an inventor and industrialist, specializing in the early development of textile machinery. His inventions were patented and used extensively during the early phases of the Industrial Revolution, highlighting the technical prowess and innovation associated with the Zornes name.

The origins and historical significance of the surname Zornes reflect a rich tapestry of feudal, economic, and scientific contributions spanning several centuries. From various documented sources, it is evident that the surname has been borne by individuals of notable repute and influence, deeply embedded in the cultural heritage of the German-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zornes

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

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 Zornes was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.66% 1,524
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.31% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.31% 5
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.74% 28
Hispanic Origin 2.98% 48

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 Zornes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.66% 94.12% 0.57%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.31% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.31% 1.52% -132.24%
Two or More Races 1.74% 1.09% 45.94%
Hispanic 2.98% 2.67% 10.97%

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

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

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"Zornes last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zornes-surname-popularity/.

"Zornes last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zornes-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Zornes last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zornes-surname-popularity/.

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