Explore the Family Name Zipf
The meaning of Zipf
1. German: from late Middle High German zipf, zipfel ‘point, tip, corner’, hence a topographic name for someone who occupied a narrow corner of land, as for example between converging channels of a stream; or a nickname for someone who wore a pointed garment like a long hood. 2. South German: nickname for a simpleton. Some characteristic forenames: German Bernhard, Otto, Raimund.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zipf in the United States?
The surname Zipf, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, experienced a decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In the year 2000, the Zipf surname was ranked 39,176 in terms of popularity but dropped to rank 42,720 by 2010, a change of approximately -9.05%. The count of people with this surname also decreased from 529 in 2000 to 507 in 2010, marking a -4.16% change. As a proportion per 100,000 people, the presence of the Zipf surname fell from 0.2 in 2000 to 0.17 in 2010, a decline of 15%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,176 | #42,720 | -9.05% |
| Count | 529 | 507 | -4.16% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.17 | -15% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zipf
In terms of ethnicity, as drawn from the Decennial U.S. Census data, the majority of individuals with the Zipf surname identified as White in both the years 2000 and 2010. However, there was a slight decrease in this group from 96.03% in 2000 to 94.87% in 2010. The percentage of those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native rose slightly from 1.7% to 1.78%. Additionally, in 2010, a small percentage (1.78%) identified as Hispanic, which was not the case in 2000. It should be noted that no individuals with the Zipf surname identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.03% | 94.87% | -1.21% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.78% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.7% | 1.78% | 4.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.32% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |