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

Zieber, 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 Zieber surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zieber in America

Zieber is the 57234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zieber surname appeared 356 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 Zieber.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zieber 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 Zieber

The surname Zieber originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly from Germany. The name likely first appeared during the Medieval period, a time when surnames were starting to become more common as populations grew and required distinguishing identifiers. Germany, during this era, was a collection of multiple principalities and duchies, and the name Zieber might have been localized to regions such as Bavaria or Saxony.

The etymology of Zieber is rooted in older Germanic linguistic traditions. While there is no definitive Old High German or Middle High German term that directly translates to Zieber, it may derive from a profession, location, or patronymic origin. The name might have evolved from the word Zieher, which in German translates to "drawer" but historically could also imply a cloth worker or someone who stretches fabric, an important trade in medieval economies.

One of the earliest references to the name Zieber can be found in various regional records from the late 14th century. The name appears in land transactions and tax records, indicating that bearers of the surname were involved in owning or managing properties. A record from 1398 in Bavaria mentions one "Hans Zieber," a landowner who was a notable figure in his village.

Another historical reference includes the town records of Mainz, where in 1452, a "Frederich Zieber" is documented as a prominent cloth merchant. This indicates the family’s possible involvement in the prosperous textile trade that Mainz was known for at the time. Such trade would have required extensive travel and connections across Europe, likely spreading and cementing the surname in various regions.

"Jacob Zieber" appears in 1563, mentioned in the chronicles of a small town in Eastern Bavaria as having contributed significantly to the rebuilding efforts after a devastating fire. This contribution not only underscores the socioeconomic status of the Zieber family in the community but also suggests a certain level of wealth and influence.

By the 17th century, the migration of people due to wars, religious persecution, and economic opportunities spread the Zieber surname beyond its original geographical confines. In 1622, records from the Thirty Years' War show a "Wilhelm Zieber" who served as a captain in the Hessian army. Wilhelm’s military role amplifies the presence of the Zieber name prominently in historical military contexts.

Finally, Johann Zieber, born in 1725 and died in 1791, marked a significant presence in the domain of early science and academia in Göttingen. A record from the University of Göttingen archives mentions Johann as a contributor to early astronomy studies, thereby associating the Zieber surname with scholarly pursuits and intellectual growth during the Age of Enlightenment.

Throughout history, the Zieber surname has been associated with diverse fields ranging from trade and landownership to military and academia, indicating its bearers' adaptability and prominence in various societal roles. Each historical mention adds a unique facet to the rich tapestry of this name's heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zieber

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

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

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

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