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

Zerbel, 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 Zerbel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zerbel in America

Zerbel is the 76275th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zerbel surname appeared 252 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 Zerbel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zerbel 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 Zerbel

The surname Zerbel is believed to have its origins in Germany, with historical records suggesting its emergence in the Middle Ages, around the 14th century. The name is likely derived from the German word zerbeln, which means to scribble or scrawl. This association hints at a possible occupational surname, referring to someone who was a scribe or involved in writing or documentation.

Early records of the name Zerbel can be traced to the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Germany. There are references to similar spellings like Zerbl and Zerbelin in medieval German manuscripts and local church documents. One of the earliest known instances of the surname appears in a Bavarian land charter from 1380, which documented a Hans Zerbel as a small landowner.

The surname gained modest recognition through various historical documents, including tax records, guild registrations, and parish registries. In the 15th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Michael Zerbel, born in 1435, who served as a town clerk in the city of Augsburg. His meticulous record-keeping and contributions to the administration are preserved in the town's archives.

In the 17th century, the name Zerbel continued to appear in various documents across southern Germany. Another prominent individual was Anna Zerbel, born in 1623, who was known for her charitable work in the town of Ulm, helping to establish a local orphanage that gained commendation from the local community.

The 19th century saw the migration of several people with the surname Zerbel to the United States and other parts of Europe, seeking better opportunities. Among them was Johann Zerbel, born in 1801, an artisan from Stuttgart who moved to Ohio, and became known for his craftsmanship in furniture making. His work is still appreciated in local museums and private collections.

In academic circles, Franz Zerbel, born in 1858, made significant contributions to medieval German studies. He worked extensively on translating and interpreting ancient texts, earning recognition in university circles in both Germany and Austria. His published works are still referenced by scholars in the field.

The Zerbel surname, though not exceedingly common, has had a noticeable presence in areas of historical and cultural development, particularly within its German regions of origin. Its bearers have contributed to various facets of society, from administration and craftsmanship to charity and academia, marking a distinctive but modestly influential legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zerbel

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

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

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

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