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

Zunker, 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 Zunker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zunker in America

Zunker is the 30980th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zunker surname appeared 750 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 Zunker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zunker 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 Zunker

The surname Zunker originates from Germany and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is likely derived from the Low German word "Zunke," meaning "a small stick" or "twig," possibly referring to a person who lived by a small wood or someone who gathered sticks. The name might also be a diminutive form of a nickname based on physical characteristics or occupational names linked to woodworking or forestry.

Zunker first appeared in historical records in the regions of Lower Saxony and Brandenburg. These areas were rich in dense forests and small farming communities, making it plausible that the name was associated with people involved in timber or agricultural work. Various spellings have been documented over the centuries, including Zuncker and Zuncker, reflecting regional dialects and orthographic practices of the time.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zunker dates back to a 14th-century manuscript found in Lüneburg, Lower Saxony, where a Heinrich Zunker is mentioned as a local landowner. This indicates that the name had some degree of social standing within this community. Another early record from the 15th century features a Johann Zunker in Brandenburg, who was registered as a craftsman, further highlighting the occupational roots of the surname.

Among notable individuals bearing the surname Zunker, Karl Zunker (1822–1878) stands out as a respected educator and author in the 19th century. His contributions to local educational reforms in Prussia earned him recognition and respect in academic circles. Another distinguished figure is Franz Zunker (1855–1914), a political figure who played a pivotal role in the regional government of Saxony-Anhalt during the transition from the 19th to the 20th century.

Into the 20th century, the Zunker name continued to appear prominently. Ferdinand Zunker (1887–1944) was a well-known artist whose works gained critical acclaim in Germany during the early decades of the 20th century. His paintings, often depicting rural life and natural landscapes, reflected the deep connection to the countryside, hinting at the name's rustic origins.

One more individual of note is Elfriede Zunker (1912–1989), a pioneering figure in German cinema who worked as a scriptwriter and producer during the mid-20th century. Her efforts helped place German film on the global map, and her work continues to be studied by film historians.

In sum, the surname Zunker is deeply rooted in the regions of Lower Saxony and Brandenburg in Germany and has evolved over centuries to reflect significant social, occupational, and cultural histories. Through various historical records and notable individuals, it has maintained a presence that speaks to its longstanding heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zunker

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

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

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

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