Explore the Family Name Zenk
The meaning of Zenk
South German: unflattering nickname for a quarrelsome person, from a derivative of Middle High German zenken, zanken ‘to provoke’. Some characteristic forenames: German Erwin, Gunther, Lothar.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zenk in the United States?
Based on the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Zenk has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Zenk was ranked 25,945th in terms of popularity and had a proportion of 0.33 per 100,000 people. By 2010, however, its rank had dropped to 28,100th, representing an 8.31% decrease. The number of individuals with this surname also decreased during this period, from 889 to 852, a reduction of 4.16%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,945 | #28,100 | -8.31% |
| Count | 889 | 852 | -4.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.29 | -12.12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zenk
When considering the ethnic identity associated with the surname Zenk, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of those carrying the name are of White ethnicity. In 2000, this group accounted for 97.98% of all Zenks; by 2010, this percentage had slightly decreased to 97.18%. Over the same period, there was a notable increase in the proportion of Hispanic people with this surname, rising from 0.67% in 2000 to 1.06% in 2010. Additionally, a small percentage of Zenks were identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races in 2010. No Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals with the Zenk surname were recorded in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.98% | 97.18% | -0.82% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.06% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0.67% | 1.06% | 58.21% |
| Two or More Races | 0.67% | 0.59% | -11.94% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |