2000
#122,534
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 130
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zutell
A German surname that may derive from Zutel meaning "teat" or "udder."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 127 Americans carry the last name Zutell. That puts it at #148,665 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,698,853 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zutell 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
127
1 in 2,698,853
Census rank
#148,665
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
111
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 111 bearers of the surname Zutell in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 148665th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zutell, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.3%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zutell
The surname Zutell is believed to have its origins in Central Europe, potentially dating back to the early Middle Ages. The name appears to be of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, with links to regions that are part of modern-day Germany, Poland, and Austria. It is likely derived from a Yiddish phrase or word, reflecting the linguistic blend typical of Jewish communities in these areas. The suffix -ell might be a diminutive or variation of the Yiddish or Germanic root word it is based on.
The earliest references to surnames similar to Zutell can be traced back to Jewish communities in medieval German-speaking territories. Records from the 13th and 14th centuries occasionally feature variations of the name such as Zutel, Zutl, or Zittel. The evolution of the name is reflective of linguistic shifts and migrations of Jewish populations across Europe during this era.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zutell appears in a manuscript from 1525 listing community members in a small town near present-day Berlin. The record mentions a David Zutell, a local merchant known for trading goods across the region. Another early reference is found in a 1598 tax record from Krakow, Poland, which lists a Jacob Zutel among the taxed residents.
In the 18th century, as Ashkenazi Jews began adopting more permanent surnames, the name Zutell became more standardized. A notable figure from this period is Hersch Zutell, born in 1720 in Saxony, who was known for his contributions to Jewish scholarship and local religious life. His works are occasionally cited in historical religious texts.
The 19th century saw an increase in the migration of Jewish families with the surname Zutell to the Americas, particularly the United States. Bearers of the surname often settled in New York and Chicago, becoming involved in various trades and industries. One prominent individual was Aaron Zutell, born in 1843, who established a successful textile business in New York City and was active in philanthropy.
By the early 20th century, the name continued to be present in Jewish-American communities. Miriam Zutell, born in 1895, gained recognition as a social activist and advocate for immigrant rights. Her work during the Great Depression helped many families in need and cemented her legacy as an important figure in her community.
Though the surname Zutell may not be widely known today, its rich history reflects the broader narrative of Jewish migration, adaptation, and resilience across centuries and continents.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zutell
Among Census respondents with the surname Zutell, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.3%) and Hispanic (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Zutell 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 Zutell surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White85.6% · 95
- Two or more races6.3% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino4.5% · 5
- Black or African American2.7% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zutell
Zutell 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
#133,863
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
-4 bearers (-3.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,329 places
2020
#148,665
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
-15 bearers (-11.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,802 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #122,534 | 130 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,863 | 126 | 0.04 | -4 bearers (-3.1%) | Down 11,329 places |
| 2020 | #148,665 | 111 | 0.04 | -15 bearers (-11.9%) | Down 14,802 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 Zutell 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 | #133,863 | #148,665 | -11.1% |
| Count | 126 | 111 | -11.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -7.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zutell bearers went from 126 to 111 (-11.9% change). The surname moved down 14,802 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,863 to #148,665.
FAQ
Zutell surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zutell?
Name Census estimates that about 127 living Americans carry the surname Zutell. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,698,853 residents.
How common is Zutell?
Zutell ranks #148,665 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 111 people with the surname Zutell. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (127), 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 Zutell.
Has Zutell become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zutell went from 126 recorded bearers to 111. That is a decrease of 15 (-11.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,863 to #148,665.
What does the Census say about the background of Zutell?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zutell, the largest self-reported group is White at 85.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.3%) and Hispanic (4.5%). 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 Zutell in the 2020 Census, accounting for 85.6% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zutell appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (85.6%), Two or More Races (6.3%), Hispanic (4.5%). 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 Zutell (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 Zutell mean?
A German surname that may derive from Zutel meaning "teat" or "udder." 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 Zutell (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 Zutell?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.