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Zern Family History

Zern Name Meaning

German: probably a variant of Zörn itself a variant of Zorn ‘wrath anger’. German (of Slavic origin): nickname or metonymic occupational name from a Germanized Slavic word meaning ‘black’ (compare 3 and Cerny ) or ‘grain’ (Old Slavic zьrno). Germanized form of Sorbian Cern (or perhaps by shortening of some other surname beginning with Cern-): nickname derived from Lower Sorbian dialect cerny ‘black’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Zorn, Kern, Zarn, Corn, Dern, Bern, Zepf, Zurn, Zinn, Bean

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Zern family from?

You can see how Zern families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zern family name was found in the USA, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Zern families were found in USA in 1880. In 1841 there was 1 Zern family living in Midlothian. This was 100% of all the recorded Zern's in Scotland. Midlothian had the highest population of Zern families in 1841.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zern surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Zern ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Salesman and Housekeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zern. 14% of Zern men worked as a Salesman and 25% of Zern women worked as a Housekeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Zern were Attendant and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Zern | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Salesman
    14%
  • Laborer
    12%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Attendant
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Waitress
    25%
  • Bookkeeper
    25%
  • Housewife
    25%
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What Zern family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Zern. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zern census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Zern

Passenger Lists

There are 327 immigration records available for the last name Zern. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Zern immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Zern. For the veterans among your Zern ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Zern lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Zern life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1947, and highest in 1974. The average life expectancy for Zern in 1947 was 22, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zern

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