Find out how popular the last name Zaehringer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zaehringer.

Zaehringer, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zaehringer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaehringer in America

Zaehringer is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaehringer surname appeared 209 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zaehringer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaehringer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zaehringer

The surname Zaehringer traces its origins to medieval Germany, specifically in the region of Zähringen, which is now part of modern-day Baden-Württemberg. The name is derived from the German word Zähringen or Zehringen, which referred to people from or associated with the town or the counts of Zähringen.

The word Zähringen comes from the Germanic root words that often signify a place of residence or a fortified dwelling, with the '-ingen' suffix commonly indicating a place name in Germanic-speaking regions, particularly in southern Germany and Switzerland. Therefore, Zähringen would likely translate to something along the lines of "the people of the Zähring" or "dwelling place of Zähring.”

The name Zaehringer is historically significant as it is linked to the House of Zähringen, a dynasty of Swabian noblemen in the High Middle Ages. The earliest known records of the House of Zähringen date back to the 11th century. Berthold II, Duke of Zähringen, who lived from around 1050 until 1111, was one of the earliest and most notable bearers of the name. He was granted the ducal title by Emperor Henry IV.

Further historical records indicate that the Zähringer family played an important role in the development of cities in what are now southwestern Germany, Switzerland, and even parts of Austria. The family founded several cities, including Freiburg im Breisgau in 1120, reflecting their influence and reach.

The Zähringers were instrumental in the region, with prominent members like Berthold IV, Duke of Zähringen (circa 1125-1186), who continued the expansion and consolidation of their territories. His efforts at establishing the independence of the Swabian territories are well documented in various charters and political treaties from that period.

Conrad I, Duke of Zähringen (circa 1090-1152), is another renowned figure who had substantial influence. Conrad continued his predecessors’ work by strengthening the family's political and military stance within the Holy Roman Empire. Records from monasteries and church archives, such as those of St. Blasien in the Black Forest, frequently mention the Zähringer dukes during this period.

Duke Berthold V, who lived from around 1160 until 1218, was the last Duke of the Zähringer line. His unsuccessful attempt to secure the Burgundian crown marked the end of the male line of the family, after which their territories were divided among other noble houses. Nonetheless, the legacy of the Zaehringer name continued, given their significant historical imprint.

Numerous town names and landmarks within Germany and Switzerland remain as a testament to the Zähringer influence. For instance, Zähringerplatz in Zurich, Switzerland, commemorates the house's historical importance.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Zaehringer has been borne by various individuals maintaining the noble legacy. Although it has become less common, the name still appears in genealogical studies and local histories of the regions once dominated by the Zähringer family. Their contributions to the area's medieval history provide an enduring legacy connected to the surname Zaehringer.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaehringer

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zaehringer.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zaehringer was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zaehringer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zaehringer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zaehringer, please contact us.

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