Surname Zeender - Meaning and Origin
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Zeender: What does the surname Zeender mean?
The last name Zeender is an occupational surname, coming from the German word ‘zehendorffern’. This word was used to describe a type of local landholder or farming entrepreneur in certain German villages, ranging in social rank from middle class to the upper crust. Such individuals typically owned several farms, and would often serve as court officers or other types of public servants.
The literal translation of ‘zehendorffern’ is ‘tenant farmer’, although it can also be translated as ‘protector of the lordship’ or ‘overlord of the vassal’, which speaks to the power that such local landholders could wield. This suggests that the Zeenders of the past were connected to some kind of nobility or higher up in a feudal arrangement, as well as being possibly the local go-to for land and farm ownership.
Zeender is a unique and interesting surname, that speaks to a person from a relatively rare, distinct, and well-respected position in society. Such an individual could have a great deal of influence and importance to their community, often because of an especially high level of trust and understanding of the cultural context.
Order DNA origin analysisZeender: Where does the name Zeender come from?
The last name Zeender is most commonly found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Austria. In the US, the states with the highest reported numbers of people with the last name Zeender are California, New York, and Pennsylvania. It is also found in small numbers in other states as well as in Australia, Sweden, and other parts of Europe. It is a rare surname, and its origin is unclear, but it is thought to have German origins. In Germany, the Zeender name is most commonly found in Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
In the United States, people with the Zeender surname were primarily located in the early 20th century in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts. Zeender is most closely associated with Pennsylvania, since records show that the most Zeenders live in Pennsylvania. Additionally, in the 19th century, immigrants with the Zeender surname settled in Pennsylvania and other eastern US states, and it is believed that the Zeender families living in Pennsylvania are likely descendants of immigrants originating from the states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.
Today, the Zeender surname is not particularly common, but there are still people with the last name living throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the western world.
Variations of the surname Zeender
The surname Zeender, is an occupational surname which originates from German-speaking areas and is derived from Middle High German sintwerer meaning “zinc worker”. The word denoting the profession itself comes from a combination of the German words for “zinc” (zin) and “worker” (werer).
The spelling variants of the surname Zeender include: Zänder, Zendar, Zintwright, Zintweir, Zentner, Zentnerin and Zinder. Alternative surnames with the same origin are Cinder, Zintner and Zinner.
The surname Zeender can be found in countries worldwide and variations of it also exist in other languages. The Spanish variant of the surname Zeender is Cendar, the Italian version is Zinateri, and the Dutch form is Zintworm.
Other spellings which are derived from the Zeender surname include Cendre, Cindre, Zandt, Zändt, Santner, Sander, Sender, Seender, Sinder, Sinnadar, Zinzendorf and Zinthar.
Alternative surnames with the same origin include Sendel, Zender and Zent. There are also surnames with similar spelling that are derived from different origins, such as Seender (from the Germanic name Sintwulf), Sendel (from the given name Sandal) and Zander (from the given name Alexander).
In certain countries, variations of the surname Zeender may have acquired other meanings. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the surname Zeenders may have come from the given name Zanders, which is derived from the Greek name Andreas.
Famous people with the name Zeender
- William Zeender: a German politician.
- Dwayne Zeender: a retired American professional baseball pitcher.
- Hans Zeender: a Swiss-born Austrian physicist.
- Andy Zeender: a political cartoonist in Dallas, Texas.
- Arnold Zeender: former Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Emil Zeender: a German academic, politician and Catholic priest.
- Jay Zeender: an American politician.
- John Zeender: a Maryland State Senate member.
- Itay Zeender: a former Israeli professional basketball player.
- Rudi Zeender: a former member of the German Bundestag.
- Sara Zeender: a Danish actress.
- Lorenz Zeender: a German organist and composer.
- Chay Zeender: a German basketball player.
- Heidi Zeender: a former German sprinter.
- Kelly Zeender: an American contemporary dancer and choreographer.