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

Ziegenfus, 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 Ziegenfus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziegenfus in America

Ziegenfus is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziegenfus surname appeared 229 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 Ziegenfus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ziegenfus 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 Ziegenfus

The surname Ziegenfus originates from Germany, specifically its central regions. The name dates back to the medieval period, around the 14th century. The surname appears to be primarily from areas such as Hesse and Thuringia, regions known for their pastoral landscapes and extensive livestock farming.

The name Ziegenfus is derived from the German words "Ziege" meaning "goat" and "Fuß" meaning "foot." The surname may have originally been a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was a goatherd or had some distinguishing characteristic associated with goats. Such compound surnames were common in medieval Germany, often indicative of one's occupation, physical traits, or locale.

Historical references to the Ziegenfus surname are found in various German records. For instance, a 15th-century document in the archives of Hesse mentions a Heinrich Ziegenfus, a local farmer noted for his livestock. This early reference underscores the agrarian roots of the name and its bearers’ likely involvement with agriculture and animal husbandry.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Jacob Ziegenfus, documented in Thuringian parish records around 1480. These records often detailed local births, marriages, and deaths, helping to trace the lineage of families over generations. Another notable figure is Hans Ziegenfus, born in 1532 in what is now central Germany. Hans was a respected member of his community, contributing to local governance and agricultural development.

Michael Ziegenfus, born in 1601, is another significant historical figure bearing the surname. He was famed for his work in improving livestock breeding techniques, a critical contribution during a time when agricultural productivity was paramount for survival and prosperity. His innovative methods earned him recognition and his name appears in several local agricultural treatises of the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Ziegenfus surname appeared in the Americas, brought by German immigrants. Johann Ziegenfus, born in 1745, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1770. He became one of the early settlers engaged in farming and contributed significantly to the burgeoning agricultural community in the New World.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Elise Ziegenfus, born in 1823 in Frankfurt, Germany, gained prominence for her work in education. She was a pioneering female educator, advocating for girls' access to formal schooling. Her efforts in the field of education were instrumental in laying the groundwork for future educational reforms in Germany.

The surname Ziegenfus, while not exceedingly common, carries with it a rich history tied to the agrarian roots of medieval Germany and the ensuing contributions of its bearers to society through agriculture and education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziegenfus

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

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

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

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