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

Zufall, 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 Zufall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zufall in America

Zufall is the 33990th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zufall surname appeared 669 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 Zufall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zufall 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 Zufall

The surname Zufall is predominantly of German origin and can be traced back to medieval times. The name "Zufall" is derived from the German word "Zufall," meaning "chance" or "accident". This suggests that the name may have originally been a nickname for someone who was considered to have been born by chance or perhaps someone who had a unique or unexpected life story. The region where this surname first appeared is primarily within German-speaking territories, but chiefly within the areas we know today as Germany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zufall appears in the 16th century and can be found in regional documents such as local parish records, which often detailed births, marriages, and deaths. Though these documents are not as widely recognized as larger compendiums like the Domesday Book of England, they serve as critical historical records in German and Austrian archives.

Throughout history, the surname has seen variations in its spelling, commonly aligning closely with phonetic interpretations, such as “Zufahle” or “Tsufahl.” These variations often appeared in records depending on the scribe and the regional dialects of the time.

One significant figure who bore the surname was Johann Wolfgang Zufall, born in 1790. Known for his work as a local magistrate, Johann was influential in implementing administrative reforms in his town. Another prominent individual was Maria Zufall, born in 1825, who was recognized for her contributions to early 19th-century German literature, although her works have mostly been lost to time.

Further back in history, the family name is associated with a notable figure, Heinrich Zufall, born in 1546, who was an accomplished craftsman. His beautifully designed wooden carvings can still be found in several old cathedrals in the area that is now western Germany.

Another notable person with the surname was Friedrich Zufall, born in 1873, who made his mark as a scientist in the field of physics, significantly contributing to early developments in the understanding of electromagnetism before his untimely death in 1910.

In more recent history, Ernst Zufall, born in 1901, garnered attention as an accomplished vaudeville performer in pre-World War II Europe. His legacy in the arts left a lasting impression, evident in some German theatrical traditions that persist today.

Overall, the surname Zufall carries with it a rich history that spans several centuries. From its origins in the Germanic regions to its bearers who have left their mark on history in various fields, the name reflects a diverse and intriguing lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zufall

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

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

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

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