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

Zoss, 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 Zoss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zoss in America

Zoss is the 54637th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zoss surname appeared 377 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 Zoss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zoss 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 Zoss

The surname Zoss has its origins in Switzerland, specifically within the German-speaking regions of the country. The roots of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, where it was predominantly found in the cantons of Bern and Zurich. Zoss is believed to be a variation of the surname Zaugg or Zahnd, names that were common in the Swiss Confederacy and thought to derive from older Germanic and Alemannic words. The name Zoss itself has evolved over centuries, with various spellings such as Zoss, Zaus, and Zas appearing in different historical documents.

Historical references to the surname Zoss can be found in various parish records and tax registers. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is from the 16th century, where a Christoph Zoss is mentioned in church records in Bern around 1575. These old documents reveal that the Zoss family were primarily involved in agriculture and local governance, making significant contributions to their communities.

One notable figure bearing the surname Zoss is Hans Zoss, born in 1602 in the canton of Zurich. Hans Zoss was a respected local magistrate and farmer, known for his fair judgements and community leadership. He died in 1672 and was commemorated in local historical writings for his contributions to the region.

In the 18th century, the name Zoss appeared in emigration records, as several families bearing the surname moved to the United States for better economic opportunities. Johannes Zoss, born in 1720 in Bern, migrated to Pennsylvania in 1750. His descendants played a role in the American Revolutionary War and were significant members of their local communities.

The surname Zoss also made its way into religious leadership during the 19th century. Wilhelm Zoss, born in 1836, served as a pastor in Basel and later became an influential theologian. His writings and sermons were widely recognized, contributing to the Protestant Reformation movements within Switzerland.

Another key figure includes Eduard Zoss, born in 1865 in Zurich, who was a celebrated artist known for his landscape paintings. Eduard's works were showcased in several European art exhibitions, marking his contribution to the Swiss cultural heritage. He passed away in 1941, leaving behind a legacy of artistic achievement.

Throughout history, the surname Zoss has been carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from agriculture and governance to theology and the arts. The name’s evolution and presence across regions highlight its deep roots in Swiss heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zoss

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!