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

Zeitner, 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 Zeitner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeitner in America

Zeitner is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeitner surname appeared 179 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 Zeitner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeitner 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 Zeitner

The surname Zeitner has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It first appeared during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is believed to be toponymic in nature, derived from geographic or locational features. Specifically, it is thought to originate from areas within modern-day Germany, Austria, or Switzerland where old words such as "Zeit," which translates to "time" in English, played a fundamental role.

The exact meaning of Zeitner is closely associated with the concept of time. This could imply that the original bearers of the name were either timekeepers, perhaps associated with roles involving the management or measurement of time, or possibly employed by a notable figure related to such tasks. Alternatively, the name might have roots in certain village or town names that have long since vanished or evolved in spelling.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zeitner appear in the church registers of Nürnberg in the early 15th century. A notable mention is Hans Zeitner, a burgher from Nürnberg, recorded in 1438. Additional historical records show that the Zeitner family was involved in various trades and administrative roles across different German principalities during that period.

In 1521, a man named Joachim Zeitner was documented in the municipal records of Leipzig as a master goldsmith. His works, though not preserved, were noted in contemporary accounts for their craftsmanship and artistry, making him a renowned figure in local history. By the 1600s, another branch of the Zeitner family had established itself in Mainz, where Heinrich Zeitner served as a local councilor and was actively involved in the political affairs of his community until his death in 1647.

In the late 17th century, Johann Zeitner emerged as a notable figure, this time in Vienna. Born in 1653, he was known for his involvement in the burgeoning field of natural philosophy and his extensive correspondence with other scholars of the time. His contributions to early scientific thought were significant, though less well-known outside academic circles.

The 18th century saw the name Zeitner being carried over to the New World by European emigrants. Among them was Georg Friedrich Zeitner, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1743. He became a prosperous landowner and contributed to the local development of his adopted home, passing away in 1791.

Further examples exist throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Eduard Zeitner, a Prussian military officer born in 1798 who participated in several key Napoleonic Wars engagements before transitioning to a life of public service in Bonn. His distinguished career lasted until his death in 1862, leaving behind a legacy marked by service and dedication.

The contemporary spread of the Zeitner surname traces back to these early roots, with descendants and relatives dispersed throughout Europe and North America. The name stands as a testament to the diverse roles and contributions of the Zeitner family over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeitner

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

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

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

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