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

Zufelt, 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 Zufelt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zufelt in America

Zufelt is the 25640th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zufelt surname appeared 962 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 Zufelt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zufelt 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 Zufelt

The surname Zufelt is of Swiss origin, particularly from the German-speaking regions of Switzerland. The name likely emerged during the late medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. The roots of the name can be traced back to the Swiss region known as Zürich, a canton that was and still is predominantly German-speaking.

The surname Zufelt may have derivatives from the Old High German words "zû," meaning "to" or "at," and "feld," meaning "field" or "open country." This combination would suggest a geographical element, indicating the name's origin relates to a person or family residing "at the field." Similarly, the surname could be related to variations such as Züfelli or Zufelet, derived from dialect pronunciations and spellings over time.

One of the earliest references to the name comes from church and municipal records in Zürich. In the early 16th century, Jakob Zufelt (born 1524, died 1588) is mentioned as a landowner and prominent figure in local governance. His holdings and contributions to the community were documented in Zurich's city annals.

Another notable individual was Hans Zufelt, a merchant who appears in records dating back to 1602. Hans utilized his connections to facilitate trade routes between Switzerland and neighboring German states, becoming an influential trader. His business dealings were recognized in trader guild documents preserved from that period.

The name further appears in 17th century genealogical records with Anna Zufelt, born in 1641 in Zürich. She was known for her charitable work and contributions to local education, establishing a school for underprivileged children that continued to operate well beyond her death in 1710.

In more recent history, the surname Zufelt was brought to North America during the wave of Swiss migration in the 19th century. Jacob Zufelt (born 1806, died 1884) immigrated to the United States with his family, settling in Pennsylvania. His descendants have played roles in various American communities, carrying the name through generations.

Another prominent bearer was Friedrich Zufelt, born in 1835, who moved to Canada in the mid-19th century. Friedrich became a respected farmer and community leader in Ontario, contributing significantly to the development of agricultural practices in the region until his death in 1910.

Over time, the surname Zufelt has spread beyond its Swiss origins, adapted through migration, and maintained its connection to heritage and geographical roots. The name remains relatively rare but continues to be a marker of Swiss lineage and the historical occupations and contributions of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zufelt

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

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

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

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