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

Zager, 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 Zager surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zager in America

Zager is the 20299th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zager surname appeared 1,310 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 Zager.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zager 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 Zager

The surname Zager has its origins primarily in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, with notable presence in countries like Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. The name emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th to 15th centuries. It is likely derived from the German word "Sager," which translates to "sawyer" in English, referring to someone who cuts wood or is involved in the sawing trade. Variations of the surname can also be found in Yiddish and Hebrew, where "Zag" or "Zagier" might be a derivative.

Old records such as manorial rolls and tax documents from the Holy Roman Empire period mention the surname in various forms. The Zager surname is found in municipal records in Bavaria in the 15th century. Although not directly appearing in the Domesday Book due to its geographical focus on England, similar occupational surnames were nonetheless common in medieval Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zager was in 1423 in Bavarian tax rolls. Johann Zager, born in 1482 and died in 1545, was a notable figure residing in what is now modern-day Austria. He was a well-known sawyer, contributing to the local economy by providing essential services in timber processing. Another early bearer, Annegret Zager, born in 1531, was mentioned in records as marrying into a notable merchant family in Germany, indicating the name's integration into various social strata.

The surname also appeared in Slovenian regions, known for their dense forests and timber industry. Ivan Zager, born in 1569 and died in 1630, was documented as a master carpenter, participating in constructing significant buildings within the Ljubljana region. By the 17th century, the name Zager had spread to neighboring countries, becoming more common in Poland and Hungary, often associated with similar trades and occupations.

A significant historical figure bearing the surname Zager was Jakob Zager, born in 1724, who was an influential member of the Austrian guild of woodworkers. He documented various wood sawing techniques that were innovative for his time, later passing these skills to apprentices. By the 18th century, the Zager surname had also appeared in immigration records to the Americas, as families sought new opportunities.

Lastly, Lazar Zager, born in 1856, was a noteworthy individual in the Slovenian national movement. He played a crucial role in advocating for Slovene cultural and political rights during a period of intense nationalistic activity in Central Europe. His contributions were significant enough to be recorded in various nationalistic literature of the time.

The history of the surname Zager is thus deeply rooted in Central and Eastern European trades, particularly wood-related occupations, with a rich legacy carried forward by various individuals contributing to their societies in meaningful ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zager

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

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 Zager 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 Zager 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 Zager was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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