Surname Zaner - Meaning and Origin

Zaner: What does the surname Zaner mean?

The last name Zaner is of German Jewish origin, and is believed to have been derived from the personal name Zany or Zaney. In medieval Germany, “Zany” was an occupational name denoting someone who wrote songs or verses. As surnames began to be adopted in the Middle Ages, this name was likely taken up in a variety of forms, such as Zaner, Zane, Zahn, Zahnner, Zaener, and Zann.

Zaner is a more modern spelling of the name, and is less commonly seen outside of America. As German Jews immigrated to the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries, many changed their name to its Americanized variant, and the spelling “Zaner” became common.

Today, the surname Zaner is found primarily among families of German Jewish descent living in the United States. It serves as a reminder of a long and complex history of immigration, assimilation, and cultural exchange. As such, those fortunate enough to bear the name of Zaner should take pride in the rich cultural heritage it signifies.

Zaner: Where does the name Zaner come from?

The last name Zaner is most commonly found today in Eastern European countries, such as Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, and Russia. A lot of people with the last name of Zaner who immigrated to the United States in the late 19th century came from these countries. This surname is believed to have been of Slavic origin.

In the US, the last name Zaner is most frequently found in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California. According to the US Census Bureau in 2020, around 1,700 people in the US have the last name Zaner. Recent estimates indicate that the number of people with this last name is growing by around 5 percent each year.

In addition to the United States, there are many people in other countries with the last name Zaner. The last name is especially common in Canada, where nearly 4,000 people are known to have the surname. Approximately 1,600 people have the last name of Zaner in Australia, while even more people have the surname in the United Kingdom.

In conclusion, the last name Zaner is most commonly found in Eastern European countries. However, the surname has become much more widespread in recent decades, with a sizable presence in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Zaner

The surname ‘Zaner’ is known in several variant spellings, surnames of the same origin, and foreign language equivalents.

In Germanic-speaking countries, the surname ‘Zaner’ is sometimes spelled ‘Zäner’ or ‘Zaener’ – indicating that the letter “ä” or “ae” was likely originally part of the name. Similar surnames in German and Austrian records include Zäner, Saener, Zayner, Sänner, and Saenner.

The surname 'Zaner' may also have a Yiddish origin, and the variant ‘Zarner’ or ‘Tzarnar’ appears in Jewish records of the Middle Ages. In Eastern European documents from Poland, the surname is typically spelled ‘Zarnowski’ or ‘Zarnowsky’.

A Slavic variant, ‘Žáner’, can also be found in Czech Republic and Slovakia, and a few Italian records from the 1600s list the variant ‘Zanerio’. In Spanish records from the 16th century, several variations are recorded, including ‘Zanero’, ‘Sanero’, and ‘Zanerio’.

The Italian variant ‘Senarega’ is also connected to the ‘Zaner’ surname, though it is necessary to seek out additional evidence from additional records to confirm this connection.

In short, there exist several variant spellings, surnames of the same origin, and foreign language equivalents of the surname ‘Zaner’, such as 'Zäner', ‘Saener’, ‘Tzarnar’, ‘Zarnowski’, ‘Žáner’, ‘Zanerio’, ‘Sanero’, and ‘Senarega’ - all derived from the same root name.

Famous people with the name Zaner

• Joe Zaner, former NFL football player
• Jillian Zaner, American singer
• Boxer Zaner, hip hop artist
• Andrea Zaner, YouTuber
• Bishop Edward R. Zane, Arizona clergyman
• Charles E. Zaner, American oil pioneer
• Dave Zaner, Chief Meteorologist at a Michigan TV station
• Jiri Zaner, Czech chief of police
• John Zaner, journalist and educator
• Dillon "Cat Daddy" Zaner, stuntman and actor
• Leeanne Zaner, home economics specialist
• Megan Zaner, American robotics engineer
• Nathan Zaner, American composer
• Richard Zaner, American philosopher
• Sarah Zaner, American author and illustrator

Other surnames

Zane