Zerbe
A German habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "bitter" or "sour," likely referring to infertile soil.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,776 Americans carry the last name Zerbe. That puts it at #12,884 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.81 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 123,471 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zerbe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
2.8K
1 in 123,471
Census rank
#12,884
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.4K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,388 bearers of the surname Zerbe in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12884th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zerbe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zerbe
The surname Zerbe has its origins in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the German word "Zerbe," which means "small portion" or "share." It is believed that the name was originally given to individuals who were responsible for distributing or allocating resources, such as land or food, within a community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Zerbe surname can be found in the town of Wittenberg, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1569, a document mentions a certain Hans Zerbe, who was a landowner and a respected member of the local community.
In the 17th century, the Zerbe name began to spread across various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate. During this period, several notable individuals bearing the Zerbe surname emerged. For instance, Johann Zerbe (1589-1644) was a prominent theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious matters.
As the Zerbe family grew and expanded, some members began to migrate to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One of the earliest recorded instances of the Zerbe name in the United States can be found in the records of Pennsylvania, where a family of Zerbes settled in the late 18th century.
Throughout history, several individuals with the Zerbe surname have achieved notable accomplishments. Heinrich Zerbe (1832-1908) was a German-American landscape painter known for his depictions of the American West. Another notable figure was Karl Zerbe (1903-1972), a German-American artist and illustrator who contributed illustrations to various publications, including The Saturday Evening Post.
Other prominent individuals with the Zerbe surname include Alfred Zerbe (1888-1949), a German actor and film director; Otto Zerbe (1892-1965), a German politician and member of the Nazi Party; and Erwin Zerbe (1906-1988), a German chess player and journalist who was recognized as a International Master by the World Chess Federation.
While the Zerbe surname may not be as widespread as some other German names, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, politicians, religious figures, and landowners. The name's origins can be traced back to the 16th century in Germany, where it was associated with the distribution and allocation of resources within communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zerbe
Among Census respondents with the surname Zerbe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zerbe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Zerbe surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5%
- Black or African American0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Zerbe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #12,884 | #12,884 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,388 | 2,388 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.81 | 0.81 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Zerbe bearers went from 2,388 to 2,388 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #12,884 to #12,884.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Zerbe
FAQ
Zerbe surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Zerbe?
The surname Zerbe holds position #12,884 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,776 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.81 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Zerbe surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zerbe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.