2000
#111,740
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 146
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zulch
A variant spelling of the German surname Zülch, derived from a placename.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Zulch. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zulch 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Zulch in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zulch, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zulch
The surname Zulch has its origins in Germany, with historical records dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have come from the regions that are today part of the German Federal Republic, particularly from areas in Bavaria and Prussia, though variations of the name may have been found in other regions as well. It is likely that the name has undergone transformations over the centuries, adapting to the linguistic changes and local dialects of the regions it was found in.
The name Zulch may be etymologically linked to old Germanic words such as "sul" or "zul," which meant a pillar or a stanchion. These words suggest that the original bearers of the name could have been involved in construction or carpentry, or were people of significant sturdiness and support within their communities. Over time, as literacy and record-keeping improved, the spelling of surnames became more standardized, leading to the more uniform "Zulch."
Historical references to the surname Zulch can be traced back to ancient legal documents and church records. It is documented in the parish registers of various towns in Germany, particularly from the 14th and 15th centuries. One early example is found in the 1431 register of the town of Nürnberg, which documents a Hans Zulch as a member of the town council. Another notable reference is from a 1576 ledger of the Hanseatic League, which mentions a merchant named Friedrich Zulch involved in trade between Hamburg and Lübeck.
Among the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Zulch, we find the notable figure of Mathias Zulch (1623-1689), a respected scholar and theologian who was a key figure during the Protestant Reformation. His works were influential in shaping the religious discourse of his time. Another significant individual was Johann Heinrich Zulch (1748-1820), a Prussian officer who played a crucial role during the Napoleonic Wars and was decorated for his service.
The 19th century saw Herman Zulch (1805-1872), an esteemed composer and musician, whose works were celebrated within classical music circles in Germany. His contributions to chamber music and orchestral compositions remain influential. In literature, we encounter Wilhelm Friedrich Zulch (1834-1901), an author and poet whose writings captured the social and political changes of 19th-century Germany. His most famous work, "The Rhine Tales," remains a beloved piece of literary heritage.
In more recent history, Erika Zulch (1878-1965), a pioneering female scientist, was known for her groundbreaking work in chemistry and physics. Her research during the early 20th century paved the way for several advancements in the scientific community, specifically in the understanding of atomic structures. She was widely respected and received numerous accolades for her contributions to science.
The surname Zulch, deeply rooted in German history, represents a lineage of individuals who made significant contributions to their respective fields. As a surname, it carries a remarkable heritage and continues to be a testament to the rich cultural and historical fabric of Germany.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zulch
Among Census respondents with the surname Zulch, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Zulch 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 Zulch surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2% · 110
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 4
- Two or more races2.5% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zulch
Zulch 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
#118,853
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 146
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 7,113 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-28 bearers (-19.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 24,658 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #111,740 | 146 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #118,853 | 146 | 0.05 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 7,113 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | -28 bearers (-19.2%) | Down 24,658 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 Zulch 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 | #118,853 | #143,511 | -20.7% |
| Count | 146 | 118 | -19.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -21.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zulch bearers went from 146 to 118 (-19.2% change). The surname moved down 24,658 positions in the national ranking, going from #118,853 to #143,511.
FAQ
Zulch surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zulch?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Zulch. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Zulch?
Zulch ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Zulch. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zulch.
Has Zulch become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zulch went from 146 recorded bearers to 118. That is a decrease of 28 (-19.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #118,853 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Zulch?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zulch, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Zulch in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.2% (110 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zulch appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.2%), Hispanic (3.4%), Two or More Races (2.5%). 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 Zulch (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 Zulch mean?
A variant spelling of the German surname Zülch, derived from a placename. 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 Zulch (0.04 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 surname Zulch?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.