Zeagler last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zeagler

A German surname derived from the word "seigler" referring to a rope maker or sail maker.

Zeagler, 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 Zeagler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeagler in America

Zeagler is the 64721st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeagler surname appeared 307 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 Zeagler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeagler 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 64721 59916 7.71%
Count 307 315 -2.57%
Proportion per 100k 0.10 0.12 -18.18%

The history of the last name Zeagler

The surname Zeagler has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Historical records suggest that it likely stems from the medieval occupational name "Sägler" or "Sægler," which translates to "sawyer" or "one who saws wood." This derivation indicates its connections to woodworking or lumber professions that were prominent in the Germanic areas during the Middle Ages.

The surname Zeagler can be traced back to southern Germany, particularly from the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. During this period, surnames often reflected the occupation of the family, and those who were involved in sawing and woodworking adopted the name Sägler. The name underwent slight changes in spelling and pronunciation over the years, influenced by regional dialects and migrations.

Among the earliest references to a form of this surname is found in the German tax records from the 14th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is Jacobus Sægelere in 1365, who was a respected craftsman in the town of Ulm. Another early example is Hans Zägler from the mid-15th century, documented in the municipal archives of Augsburg.

As families migrated, the spelling of the surname evolved due to linguistic influences and the need to adapt to different regions and languages. By the 16th century, variations such as Zeagler, Zeiger, and Zeaglar appeared in records as these families moved across Europe and eventually to the Americas.

A notable individual bearing the name was Johann Zeigler, a 17th-century woodworker known for his craftsmanship in Baden-Württemberg. Born in 1604 and passing in 1678, Johann helped build several notable structures, and his name is recorded in the annals of the craftsmen’s guild of his time. Another significant mention is Maria Zeagler, who is recognized for her philanthropic work in Heidelberg during the late 18th century.

During the 19th century, with the expansion and migration of European families to the United States, the name Zeagler became established in America. One such figure was Heinrich Zeagler, who emigrated in 1848 and became a prominent figure in the development of communities in Pennsylvania.

By examining these records, it is evident that the surname Zeagler has a rich history rooted in medieval German occupations. Its bearers have contributed to various sectors, particularly in the craft of woodworking, while the name itself evolved through migratory patterns over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeagler

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

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 Zeagler was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.09% 295
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 2.61% 8

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 Zeagler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.09% 95.87% 0.23%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 2.61% 2.22% 16.15%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Zeagler last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zeagler-surname-popularity/.

"Zeagler last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zeagler-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zeagler last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zeagler-surname-popularity/.

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