2000
#54,643
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 353
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.13
Very Rare Last name
Zetterberg
A Swedish surname derived from "zetter" meaning a tenant farmer or cottager.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 438 Americans carry the last name Zetterberg. That puts it at #57,536 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 782,544 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zetterberg 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
438
1 in 782,544
Census rank
#57,536
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
382
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 382 bearers of the surname Zetterberg in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 57536th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zetterberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zetterberg
Zetterberg is a surname with clear Scandinavian origins, specifically from Sweden. The name can be traced back to the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. Derived from the Swedish words "zäta" (a dialect form of "zet") meaning "guard" or "watcher," and "berg" meaning "mountain" or "hill," the surname essentially means "guardian of the mountain."
Zetterberg, as a family name, first gained prominence in the Swedish provinces of Värmland and Dalarna. These areas were rich with mining towns and agricultural settlements, which made the surname particularly fitting given the landscape and its inherent need for sentinels or watchers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zetterberg dates back to parish records in Värmland from the late 1500s. These records are invaluable in tracing the genealogy and dispersal of the name throughout Sweden. A notable record mentions a Johan Zetterberg, born in 1590, who was a landowner in the region at the time.
In historical documents, the surname sometimes appears in varied approximations due to transliterations and regional dialects, including "Sätterberg" and "Zätherberg." Such variations can be traced in old Swedish registries and manuscripts, reflecting the phonetic interpretation of clerks and scribes throughout different eras.
The Zetterberg name has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. Johan Zetterberg, an influential merchant born in 1735, played a significant role in the trade affairs between Sweden and the Baltic states. Another significant individual was Gustav Zetterberg, born in 1802, who was a key figure in the Swedish Industrial Revolution, contributing substantial advancements in the mining sector.
In the 19th century, the Zetterberg family expanded its influence across Scandinavian borders. Carl Zetterberg, born in 1836, became a prominent diplomat representing Swedish interests in Russia and later Germany. His efforts were crucial in strengthening Sweden's diplomatic relationships during a volatile period in European history.
In more recent history, the name gained international recognition through Henrik Zetterberg, born in 1980, a famed Swedish ice hockey player who captained the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL. His sporting achievements have brought the Zetterberg name into modern prominence, echoing the legacy left by his historical predecessors.
Through centuries of resilience and adaptation, the Zetterberg surname has preserved its identity and significance within Swedish heritage and beyond. The rich history and notable figures associated with the name underscore its enduring legacy and cultural relevance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zetterberg
Among Census respondents with the surname Zetterberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Zetterberg 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 Zetterberg surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.9% · 351
- Hispanic or Latino4.5% · 17
- Two or more races2.1% · 8
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 4
- Black or African American0.3% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zetterberg
Zetterberg 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
#52,383
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 396
+43 bearers (+12.2%)
Per 100,000 0.13
Rank movement Up 2,260 places
2020
#57,536
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 382
-14 bearers (-3.5%)
Per 100,000 0.13
Rank movement Down 5,153 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #54,643 | 353 | 0.13 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #52,383 | 396 | 0.13 | +43 bearers (+12.2%) | Up 2,260 places |
| 2020 | #57,536 | 382 | 0.13 | -14 bearers (-3.5%) | Down 5,153 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 Zetterberg 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 | #52,383 | #57,536 | -9.8% |
| Count | 396 | 382 | -3.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.13 | 0.13 | -1.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zetterberg bearers went from 396 to 382 (-3.5% change). The surname moved down 5,153 positions in the national ranking, going from #52,383 to #57,536.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Zetterberg
FAQ
Zetterberg surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zetterberg?
Name Census estimates that about 438 living Americans carry the surname Zetterberg. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 782,544 residents.
How common is Zetterberg?
Zetterberg ranks #57,536 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 382 people with the surname Zetterberg. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (438), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.13 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.13 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zetterberg.
Has Zetterberg become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zetterberg went from 396 recorded bearers to 382. That is a decrease of 14 (-3.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #52,383 to #57,536.
What does the Census say about the background of Zetterberg?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zetterberg, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.5%) and Two or More Races (2.1%). 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 Zetterberg in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.9% (351 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zetterberg appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.9%), Hispanic (4.5%), Two or More Races (2.1%). 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 Zetterberg (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 Zetterberg mean?
A Swedish surname derived from "zetter" meaning a tenant farmer or cottager. 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 Zetterberg (0.13 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 surname Zetterberg?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.