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

Zaiger, 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 Zaiger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaiger in America

Zaiger is the 68770th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaiger surname appeared 286 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 Zaiger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaiger 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 Zaiger

The surname Zaiger is of likely German origin and can be traced back to the regions of Bavaria and Austria with significant Jewish associations. The name Zaiger appears to be derived from the Middle High German word "zeiger," meaning indicator or signpost. This root word suggests that the original bearers of the name may have been employed in a role involving direction or signaling, possibly as guides, sign makers, or town heralds.

In medieval Europe, surnames often began as nicknames or descriptive terms, thus Zaiger could have initially described someone tasked with pointing out directions or significant locations within a community. The name may also have seen variations in spelling, depending on the region and linguistic influences. Historical variations of Zaiger include Zeiger, Zeigler, and possibly Sager.

The Zaiger surname appears in various historical records, albeit sporadically, which is common for many medieval surnames. One of the earlier references to a similar name is found in records from the 14th century, where an Ulrich Zeiger is mentioned in a 1373 document detailing tax assessments in Bavaria. These early documents offer crucial insight into the socio-economic status of the Zaiger bearers, often showing them connected to urban trades or municipal duties.

One notable individual with the surname was Rabbi David Zaiger (1625-1693), an influential Jewish scholar in the Austrian region. His writings and religious leadership were significant in preserving Jewish theological traditions during a period of religious turmoil.

The name can also be found during the 18th century in records from Alsace, a region with a mixed French and German cultural heritage. Isaac Zaiger (born 1723) was a merchant whose correspondence provides a glimpse into the mercantile activities and cross-regional trade of that era.

Additionally, the surname appears in genealogical records from Eastern Europe. In the late 19th century, Samuel Zaiger (1845-1912), originally from Galicia in modern-day Poland and Ukraine, emigrated to the United States. His journey reflects the broader trend of Jewish migration due to economic opportunities and escaping persecution.

Another historical figure is Wilhelm Zaiger (1835-1901), who is documented within the Bavarian military archives. His service as an officer in the Bavarian army underscores the integration of the Zaiger family into different facets of European societies.

The surname Zaiger spans a rich cultural tapestry across Central and Eastern Europe with important ties to Jewish heritage. Despite possible variations and transformations over the centuries, the surname Zaiger remains a significant link to the historical occupations and societal roles of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaiger

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

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

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

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