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

Zeiler, 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 Zeiler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeiler in America

Zeiler is the 26282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeiler surname appeared 929 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 Zeiler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeiler 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 Zeiler

The surname Zeiler originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, with its earliest known use dating back to medieval times. The name is believed to have emerged around the 13th to 15th centuries, predominantly in areas that are today part of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The name is derived from the Old High German word "zeila," meaning "sail," which suggests the origin of the name may be associated with someone who was a sailor or had some maritime occupation.

Historical records indicate that the name Zeiler appears in various old manuscripts and documents from the medieval period. For example, in the 14th century tax registers known as the Steuerbücher, the surname is listed, providing evidence of its use during that time. It is likely that the name also had variations in spelling due to regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling practices; such variations include Zeiller and Zeilen.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zeiler is Johan Zeiler, who was mentioned in a 15th-century document in Bavaria. His name appears in a legal record from 1462, suggesting that he was a man of some standing in his community. Another early bearer of the name was Hans Zeiler, born in 1490 and known for his contributions to the local guilds in the Tyrol region.

In the 17th century, Christoph Zeiler became a noted figure. Born in 1598, he was an academic and a cartographer who contributed significantly to the geographical sciences of his time. He passed away in 1648, leaving behind numerous works and maps that were used well into the later centuries. His prominence in academia helped elevate the recognition of the surname Zeiler outside its original geographic confines.

The name was also carried by significant figures in the arts. For instance, Marcus Zeiler, born in 1720, was an accomplished Baroque painter who worked primarily in Augsburg. His works include religious and mythological subjects, and his legacy includes several altarpieces that are still admired today.

In the 19th century, Johann Zeiler (1805-1875) was a noted historian and author. His works on local history and culture were well-regarded, and his contributions to the documentation of Bavarian folklore have been invaluable to the study of the region's cultural heritage.

Overall, the surname Zeiler has a rich history intertwined with various professions, including maritime occupations, academia, the arts, and historical research. Its presence in historical documents and the fame of several individuals bearing the name attest to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeiler

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

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

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

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