2000
#15,177
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,783
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.66
Rare Last name
Zeitler
A German occupational surname for a timekeeper or clockmaker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,017 Americans carry the last name Zeitler. That puts it at #15,939 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 169,933 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zeitler surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.0K
1 in 169,933
Census rank
#15,939
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,759 bearers of the surname Zeitler in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15939th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zeitler, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zeitler
The surname Zeitler has its origins in Germany, with its first known usage tracing back to the medieval period, specifically around the 13th century. The name is predominantly found in the region of Bavaria, in southern Germany. The etymology of Zeitler can be linked to the Middle High German word "zeiter," which referred to a dairyman or someone who looked after livestock. It is probable that the name was occupational, describing someone involved in the dairy trade or herding animals.
In historical records, the surname appears in various forms such as Zeitter, Zieter, and Zeidl, reflecting regional dialects and the evolution of language over centuries. One of the earliest mentions of the surname can be found in Bavarian tax rolls and land records. These documents indicate families with the surname Zeitler owning and working significant parcels of land, suggesting their importance in local agricultural and economic activities.
A notable historical reference appears in the 14th century with Johann Zeitler, a citizen of Nuremberg, who was recorded in municipal documents concerning property transactions. Another early example includes Hans Zeitler, born in 1480, who was a respected member of the community in Munich, engaging in local governance. These records highlight the prominent role individuals with this surname played in their respective communities.
In the 16th century, the Zeitler name continued to be prominent. Michael Zeitler, born in 1525 in Augsburg, contributed to the brewing industry, which was flourishing in that period. His influence extended beyond his trade, as he was known for philanthropic efforts within his town. Similarly, records from the 17th century show the Zeitler family in Regensburg, with Georg Zeitler, born in 1601, recognized for his involvement in the local merchant guild, indicating the family's ongoing integration into various aspects of Bavarian commerce and society.
The 18th century brought another notable figure, Franz Karl Zeitler, born in 1738, who served as a city councilor in Bamberg and was involved in educational reform. His contributions to civic life were well-documented and praised in municipal records of the time. An additional example from this century is Maria Elisabeth Zeitler, born in 1765, whose work as a midwife made significant impacts on local healthcare practices.
Throughout history, the surname Zeitler has been associated with various trades and professions, reflecting the adaptability and integration of these families within their communities. The name's enduring presence across centuries underscores its historical and cultural significance within Germany.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zeitler
Among Census respondents with the surname Zeitler, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zeitler bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zeitler surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.1% · 1,655
- Hispanic or Latino3.1% · 55
- Two or more races1.8% · 32
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 9
- Black or African American0.2% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zeitler
Zeitler appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#16,150
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,791
+8 bearers (+0.4%)
Per 100,000 0.61
Rank movement Down 973 places
2020
#15,939
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,759
-32 bearers (-1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.59
Rank movement Up 211 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,177 | 1,783 | 0.66 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #16,150 | 1,791 | 0.61 | +8 bearers (+0.4%) | Down 973 places |
| 2020 | #15,939 | 1,759 | 0.59 | -32 bearers (-1.8%) | Up 211 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zeitler surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,150 | #15,939 | 1.3% |
| Count | 1,791 | 1,759 | -1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.61 | 0.59 | -3.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zeitler bearers went from 1,791 to 1,759 (-1.8% change). The surname moved up 211 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,150 to #15,939.
FAQ
Zeitler surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zeitler?
Name Census estimates that about 2,017 living Americans carry the surname Zeitler. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 169,933 residents.
How common is Zeitler?
Zeitler ranks #15,939 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.59 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,759 people with the surname Zeitler. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,017), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.59 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.59 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Zeitler.
Has Zeitler become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zeitler went from 1,791 recorded bearers to 1,759. That is a decrease of 32 (-1.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #16,150 to #15,939.
What does the Census say about the background of Zeitler?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zeitler, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.1%) and Two or More Races (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zeitler in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.1% (1,655 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zeitler appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.1%), Hispanic (3.1%), Two or More Races (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zeitler (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zeitler mean?
A German occupational surname for a timekeeper or clockmaker. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zeitler (0.59 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zeitler?
See how many people have the surname Zeitler on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.