Surname Zins - Meaning and Origin
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Zins: What does the surname Zins mean?
The last name Zins is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word zinne, which means “dweller by the sign” or “dweller at the inn.” During the Middle Ages, innkeepers and the people who lived near them were commonly referred to as Zinners, Zinkerers, and Ziners. During this time, many people living near inns took on the last names of the inns, creating a wide variety of regional surnames to reflect the many different locations that people would occupy.
As time progressed, the spelling of the name gradually changed. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the spelling of Zins changed to Zinns and then eventually to Zins, which is the spelling used in modern times.
The name Zins has by and large been associated with innkeepers and those who lived near them. One of the most famous people with the name Zins was Felix Zins, a 19th century American artisan who was considered to be one of the finest craftsman of his time. Due to the strong association of the Zins last name with innkeepers, many Zins’ have gone on to open their own successful businesses in the hospitality industry.
In modern times, the name Zins is quite popular both in Germany and in the United States, where it is listed as one of the top 1000 surnames. In general, the Zins last name evokes ideas of recreation, hospitality, and service to those in need.
Order DNA origin analysisZins: Where does the name Zins come from?
The last name Zins is most common today in the countries Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, as well as in the United States.
In Germany, records show that the Zins surname originated in Brabant, a historic province in the Netherlands, and was brought by emigrants to Germany in the 17th century. Since then, it has played an important role in German culture, so it's likely that you will still find many descendents of the early immigrants around Germany today.
In Switzerland, the Zins last name was brought by immigrants from Northern Germany around the end of the 17th century. Today, there are still a significant number of Zins families living in Switzerland, particularly in the German-speaking parts of this country.
In Austria, the Zins name came from the south of Germany to Austria for similar reasons as in Switzerland. Here, the Zins surname can be frequently found in Vienna and Lower Austria.
In the United States, the United States Census bureau found that the Zins last name is most popular in New York, California, and Pennsylvania. Many of the Zins that immigrated to the United States were German Jews.
Overall, the last name Zins is mainly found in Germanic-speaking countries due to its German origin. There are significant Zins communities in both Europe and the US. Therefore, if you are looking for Zins family members, chances are you'll find them in one of these countries!
Variations of the surname Zins
The surname Zins is a variant spelling of the German surname 'Zinz', derived from the Middle High German word 'zinz', meaning 'edge' or 'rim'. It is also spelled as 'Zinss', 'Zinsser', 'Zinz' and 'Zinzser'.
In some cases, the Zins surname has evolved from a place name. This is especially true for Jewish families who were forced to adopt surnames in the 19th century. In this case, Zins may indicate a geographical origin, usually connected to the Rhineland area.
Variant spellings of Zins include 'Zents', 'Cinz', 'Zintz', 'Zintzs', 'Zint sacks', 'Zontz', 'Zontzs' and 'Zantz'. More rarely, the surname can be found as 'Zinds', 'Zints', 'Zintsch', 'Zinst' and 'Zinstl'.
The surname is also sometimes Anglicised to 'Zinser' or 'Zinser'. This is a rare form, which primarily occurs outside mainland Europe.
In Scandinavia, Zins is commonly seen and spelled as 'Zinzén', or 'Zinzèn'. This is an evolved form of the Middle High German word meaning a ridge or mountain.
Habitational surnames based on the place name of Zins also originate from the region of the Rhineland. These include 'Zims', 'Zinke', 'Zinn', 'Zimers', 'Zimmers', 'Zimber' and 'Zumbs'.
In addition, many spelling variants of the surname, 'Zinsen', are found in Hungary, Romania and Serbia, where the surname is of Slavic-German origin.
Famous people with the name Zins
- Melissa Zins: American artist who works in multiple mediums, born in 1975.
- Andre Zins: American film producer and composer, born in 1958.
- Mitchell Zins: American dancer, choreographer, and producer, born in 1969.
- David Zins: Israeli actor, director, and theatre educationalist, born in 1953.
- Dov Zins: Israeli sculptor and architect, born in 1948.
- John Zins: American entrepreneur, born in 1944.
- Robert Zins: American builder, born in 1937.
- Avraham Zins: Polish-born Jewish rabbi and author, born in 1881.
- Joseph Zins: American lawyer, educator, and philanthropist, born in 1845.
- Ephraim Zins: German-born Communist politician, born in 1883.