Explore the Family Name Zander
The meaning of Zander
1. German: variant of Sander 1. 2. Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Sander, Zander ‘pike perch’. 3. South German: occupational name for a barber-surgeon who also pulled teeth, an agent derivative of Middle High German zan(t) ‘tooth’. Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Dieter, Ernst, Erwin, Klaus, Otto, Detlef, Eldor, Ewald, Gerhardt, Hans, Helmuth.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zander in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Zander has seen a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 7099th and by 2010, it had slipped to 7373rd place—a decline of 3.86%. However, the actual count of people with the Zander surname increased from 4342 to 4518 during this same period, representing a growth of 4.05%. This indicates that while the relative popularity fell, the absolute number of people bearing the surname actually grew. The proportion per 100,000 also experienced a decrease of 4.97% over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,099 | #7,373 | -3.86% |
| Count | 4,342 | 4,518 | 4.05% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.61 | 1.53 | -4.97% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zander
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Zander, again using the Decennial U.S. Census data, we see some changes between 2000 and 2010. The largest group, those identifying as White, decreased slightly from 93.94% to 92.41%. Meanwhile, those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander saw a substantial increase from 0.30% to 0.55%, reflecting an 83.33% change. Individuals identifying with two or more races increased from 0.97% to 1.46%, a 50.52% change. Those identifying as Hispanic moved from 1.57% to 2.10%, a 33.76% change. Black representation rose from 2.79% to 2.94%, a 5.38% change. Lastly, individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native increased from 0.44% to 0.53%, a 20.45% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.94% | 92.41% | -1.63% |
| Black | 2.79% | 2.94% | 5.38% |
| Hispanic | 1.57% | 2.1% | 33.76% |
| Two or More Races | 0.97% | 1.46% | 50.52% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.3% | 0.55% | 83.33% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.44% | 0.53% | 20.45% |
Zander ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Zander is French & German, which comprises 34.5% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (30.9%) and Eastern European (11.4%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Chinese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 34.5% |
| British & Irish | 30.9% |
| Eastern European | 11.4% |
| Other | 23.2% |
Possible origins of the surname Zander
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Zander have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 75.50% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 75.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 75.50% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 75.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 74.80% |
What Zander haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Zander is R-P312, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P312 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-M223 and G-L30, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Nagel, Timmerman, Lemke, Stoll, Hinrichs, Kraus, Grainger, Schmitt, Weber, Schmidt.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zander surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Zander have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Zander" Surname 40.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Zander" Surname 22.5%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zander" Surname 17.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Zander" Surname 18.1%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zander?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Zander are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition