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

Zediker, 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 Zediker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zediker in America

Zediker is the 62903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zediker surname appeared 318 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 Zediker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zediker 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 Zediker

The surname Zediker is believed to have origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically within the areas that are now part of Germany and Switzerland. The name likely dates back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th centuries, when surnames began to be used more commonly to identify individuals beyond their given names. The name may be derived from old Germanic personal names or occupations, such as Zimmermann (carpenter) or Zetder (possibly related to cedars or woodworkers).

One of the earliest records linking the name to a specific location is found in ecclesiastical documents from the late 15th century in the region of Swabia. This area, located in southwestern Germany, was a melting pot for many families that later spread across Europe and emigrated to North America. The name Zediker, in its various early forms, can be found in these records, often associated with land ownership or local governance roles.

The spelling of surnames was not standardized until much later in European history, and variations in the spelling of Zediker appear in historical documents. Variants include Zediger, Zedikher, and Cedicarius. These variations reflect regional dialects and the phonetic spellings used by scribes at the time.

The name appears again in the 17th century, as records from the Thirty Years' War mention a Johannes Zediker, a soldier from the Rhineland-Palatinate region. Johannes is noted for his strategic involvement in several battles between 1618 and 1648. His descendants are believed to have emigrated to America, contributing to the spread of the surname.

Another notable figure with the surname is Heinrich Zediker, an 18th-century scholar from Bavaria. Heinrich's works in natural philosophy and early scientific methodologies were influential in his region. Born in 1732 and passing away in 1789, his manuscripts are housed in several German university libraries.

An American branch of the Zediker family emerged in the early 19th century when Friedrich Zediker immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1823. Friedrich became a prominent figure in local politics and was instrumental in the establishment of educational institutions in his community.

Among the most famous individuals with the surname in American history is Clara Zediker, born in 1881. A suffragist and advocate for women's rights, Clara played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement in the early 20th century and was instrumental in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name had spread throughout various states in the United States, becoming particularly prevalent in Ohio and Illinois. Historical directories and records from places like Cook County, Illinois, often mention the Zediker name in association with business leaders and community members.

The historical breadth of the surname Zediker illustrates a rich history, with its roots in medieval Europe and its growth across continents over several centuries. This surname encapsulates a story of migration, societal contributions, and evolving identities, marked by the lives of individuals who bore it and left their mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zediker

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

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

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

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