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

Zegler, 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 Zegler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zegler in America

Zegler is the 147253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zegler surname appeared 112 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 Zegler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zegler 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 Zegler

The surname Zegler has its origins in German-speaking regions of Europe, most notably within modern-day Germany and Austria. The name itself is derived from the Old High German word "ziagal," which means "brick" or "tile." This indicates that the name was likely occupational in nature, referring to someone whose profession involved brickmaking or tilemaking. Around the 12th and 13th centuries, surnames of this nature began to emerge as people took on names related to their trades to distinguish themselves within growing towns and cities.

In early records, the name was sometimes spelled as Ziegler, Ziglär, or Ziegeler, showing slight variations in spelling from region to region. One of the earliest references to the surname Ziegler can be found in documents from the city of Nuremberg dated to 1387, where a Hans der Ziegler is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was well-established and linked to the occupation of brickmaking or tiling by the late Middle Ages.

Another historical appearance of the name is in Zürich, Switzerland, where Jakob Ziegler, a prominent humanist and cartographer, lived from 1470 to 1549. He made significant contributions to the geography of his time, publishing detailed maps that were used across Europe. His works were well-regarded for their accuracy and detail, highlighting the diversity in professions among those who carried the Ziegler name.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various registers and documents throughout the Holy Roman Empire. For instance, in 1568, a Georg Ziegler is listed as a master craftsman in Strasbourg, one of the important economic centers of the region. His presence in historical records signifies the continuation of the name's association with skilled trades and craftsmanship.

The Ziegler surname also shows up in religious contexts. In the early 18th century, Johann Ziegler, born in 1675 in Vienna, became a noted theologian and preacher. His sermons and theological works were influential during a time of great religious transformation in Europe, illustrating the branching out of the name into various intellectual and professional fields.

One of the most famous bearers of this surname in more recent history is Bernhard Ziegler, an agriculturist born in 1898 who significantly influenced agricultural practices in Germany. His innovative work in crop rotation and soil preservation earned him recognition and numerous awards, contributing to advancements in farming techniques that are still relevant today.

Throughout history, the surname Zegler and its variants, such as Ziegler, have been carried by individuals who made notable contributions in various fields, from craftsmanship and cartography to theology and agriculture. This underscores the rich and diverse legacy carried by this historic surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zegler

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

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

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

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