Explore the Family Name Zenker
The meaning of Zenker
South German: unflattering nickname for a quarrelsome person, from an agent noun derivative of Middle High German zenken, zanken ‘to provoke’. Some characteristic forenames: German Christoph, Franz, Jochen, Kurt, Otto, Wilfried, Willi.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zenker in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Zenker witnessed a decline in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Zenker was ranked 30,614 nationwide but dropped to a ranking of 33,450 in 2010, marking a decrease of 9.26 percent. The number of individuals with this surname also decreased from 719 in 2000 to 682 in 2010, a reduction of 5.15 percent. The proportion of the population with this surname per 100k residents also declined by 14.81 percent during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #30,614 | #33,450 | -9.26% |
| Count | 719 | 682 | -5.15% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.27 | 0.23 | -14.81% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zenker
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Zenker identified as White in both 2000 and 2010. However, the percentage of those identifying as White fell slightly from 97.50 percent in 2000 to 95.01 percent in 2010. The Zenker surname saw no representation within Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native categories in either year. The number identifying as Hispanic saw significant growth, increasing from 1.11 percent in 2000 to 3.67 percent in 2010, indicating a substantial increase of 230.63 percent. Additionally, a new category emerged in 2010 with some individuals identifying as belonging to two or more races, representing 0.73 percent of the Zenker surname holders.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.5% | 95.01% | -2.55% |
| Hispanic | 1.11% | 3.67% | 230.63% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0.73% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |