2000
#16,119
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,650
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.61
Rare Last name
Zornes
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Slavic element zor meaning "radiant" or "bright."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,926 Americans carry the last name Zornes. That puts it at #16,586 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.56 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 177,962 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zornes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.9K
1 in 177,962
Census rank
#16,586
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,680 bearers of the surname Zornes in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.56 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16586th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zornes, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (4.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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One of the earliest historical references to the name appears in the feudal records of Bavaria in the late 13th century.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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zornes
Among Census respondents with the surname Zornes, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (4.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Zornes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zornes surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.3% · 1,500
- Hispanic or Latino4.6% · 78
- Two or more races4.0% · 68
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 15
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 13
- Black or African American0.4% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zornes
Zornes appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#17,502
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,610
-40 bearers (-2.4%)
Per 100,000 0.55
Rank movement Down 1,383 places
2020
#16,586
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,680
+70 bearers (+4.3%)
Per 100,000 0.56
Rank movement Up 916 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #16,119 | 1,650 | 0.61 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #17,502 | 1,610 | 0.55 | -40 bearers (-2.4%) | Down 1,383 places |
| 2020 | #16,586 | 1,680 | 0.56 | +70 bearers (+4.3%) | Up 916 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zornes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,502 | #16,586 | 5.2% |
| Count | 1,610 | 1,680 | 4.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.55 | 0.56 | 2.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zornes bearers went from 1,610 to 1,680 (+4.3% change). The surname moved up 916 positions in the national ranking, going from #17,502 to #16,586.
FAQ
Zornes surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zornes?
Name Census estimates that about 1,926 living Americans carry the surname Zornes. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 177,962 residents.
How common is Zornes?
Zornes ranks #16,586 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.56 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,680 people with the surname Zornes. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (1,926), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.56 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.56 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Zornes.
Has Zornes become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zornes went from 1,610 recorded bearers to 1,680. That is an increase of 70 (+4.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #17,502 to #16,586.
What does the Census say about the background of Zornes?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zornes, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%) and Two or More Races (4.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zornes in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.3% (1,500 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zornes appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.3%), Hispanic (4.6%), Two or More Races (4.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zornes (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zornes mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Slavic element zor meaning "radiant" or "bright." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zornes (0.56 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zornes?
If you just want to know how many people have the last name Zornes, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.