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

Zeiser, 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 Zeiser surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeiser in America

Zeiser is the 63873rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeiser surname appeared 312 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 Zeiser.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeiser 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 Zeiser

The surname Zeiser has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in the medieval territories that today comprise modern Germany and Austria. Its etymological roots are primarily Germanic, derived from the Middle High German word "zeis" or "zeisig," which translates to "siskin," a type of small bird. This suggests that the name may have originally been used as a nickname for someone with bird-like qualities or possibly a bird-catcher or trader in birds.

The earliest known instances of the surname Zeiser appear in medieval German records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the oldest documented appearances is in a 1315 manuscript from the region now known as Bavaria, where a Hans Zeiserman is listed as a landowner. Variations of the surname, such as Zaiser and Zeisig, have also been recorded in different parts of Germany and Austria.

The name appears in other historical documents, including tax records and guild registers, suggesting that bearers of the name were often involved in various trades or local governance. For example, a Wilhelm Zeisig is noted in a 1452 guild register in Nuremberg, indicating that individuals with this surname were active in the flourishing medieval trade guilds.

A notable bearer of the surname in the 16th century was Peter Zeiser, born in 1524 in the city of Augsburg. He was a well-known artisan and contributed to the local craftsmanship traditions of the time, which were renowned throughout Europe. Another significant individual was Johannes Zeiser, born in 1623, who served as a local magistrate in a small town outside Frankfurt.

By the 18th century, the surname had found its way to various parts of the Holy Roman Empire. Franz Zeiser, born in 1743, became a noted academic in Vienna, contributing to the early studies of natural sciences. This movement of the surname across different regions showcases its growing prominence and distribution beyond its original area.

In the 19th century, the surname Zeiser continued to appear in various official records, including immigration documents. A prominent example is Karl Zeiser, born in 1820, who emigrated to the United States during the mid-19th century and became a noted figure in the German-American community in Pennsylvania.

The surname Zeiser, over centuries, has evolved and spread across different regions, yet its historical roots and the documented evidence found in old manuscripts, tax records, and guild registers firmly establish its origin and significance in German-speaking Europe. This history highlights not only the origins and meanings of the surname but also its journey through time and geography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeiser

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

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

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

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