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

Zweck, 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 Zweck surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zweck in America

Zweck is the 80419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zweck surname appeared 236 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 Zweck.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zweck 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 Zweck

The surname Zweck traces its origins to the German-speaking regions of Europe, primarily within what is modern-day Germany and Austria. The name is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "zweck" which means a point or a purpose, and it was often used to describe a person associated with a specific task or purpose.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Zweck appears in medieval manuscripts from the Bavarian region. During this period, surnames were often descriptive, relating to the bearer’s occupation, characteristics, or locality. Historical records such as land registries and tax documents occasionally mention individuals bearing the name Zweck, suggesting that their role or occupation within the community was well-defined and perhaps specialized.

In the early 14th century, records from the city of Augsburg include a reference to a Heinrich Zweck, a local tradesman known for his contributions to the construction of civic buildings. This mention highlights the importance of the Zweck family in their community, possibly indicating their involvement in trade or building activities.

The name underwent minor variations in spelling over the centuries. In some 15th-century documents, the surname appears as Zweke or Zueck, illustrating slight regional and linguistic differences in spelling conventions. Another notable historical reference is Hans Zweck, an official in the town of Regensburg in the late 15th century, who played a significant role in local governance, born in 1460 and presumed to have died around 1510.

By the 17th century, the name Zweck had solidified into its current form. During the Thirty Years' War, a soldier by the name of Karl Zweck, born 1602 and died 1648, is mentioned in military records, indicating the proliferation and enduring presence of the surname through significant historical events.

In the 18th century, Friedrich Zweck, an intellectual and scholar born in 1715 and passed in 1783, produced several philosophical treatises that brought the name into academic circles. His works were influential during the Enlightenment period, showcasing the family's emerging influence beyond its original practical connotations.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Zweck continued to be borne by notable figures. One prominent individual was Anna Zweck, a philanthropist born in 1832 and died in 1897, known for her extensive charitable work in Vienna, supporting education and welfare for underprivileged communities. Her legacy remains a testament to the evolving identity and impact of the Zweck family.

The surname Zweck thus carries a rich history, rooted in medieval Germanic traditions and evolving through centuries of social, military, intellectual, and philanthropic contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zweck

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

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

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

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