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Zener Family History

Zener Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Zehner, Zeier, Zeiner, Zenner, Zenker, Zenger, Tener, Zenor, Wener

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Zener family from?

You can see how Zener families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zener family name was found in the USA, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Zener families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 10 Zener families living in Ontario. This was about 91% of all the recorded Zener's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Zener families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zener 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 Zener ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Cook were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zener. 34% of Zener men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Zener women worked as a Cook. Some less common occupations for Americans named Zener were Labor and Stenographer.

View Census Data for Zener | 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

  • Laborer
    34%
  • Mechanic
    23%
  • Farmer
    23%
  • Labor
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Cook
    50%
  • Stenographer
    50%

What Zener family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Zener. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zener census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Zener

Passenger Lists

There are 278 immigration records available for the last name Zener. 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 Zener immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 225 military records available for the last name Zener. For the veterans among your Zener ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zener military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zener family history

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What is the average Zener lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Zener life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1981, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Zener in 1960 was 56, and 93 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zener

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Zener ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Zener family tree

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