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

Zieger, 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 Zieger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zieger in America

Zieger is the 46138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zieger surname appeared 462 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 Zieger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zieger 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 Zieger

The surname Zieger has its origins in Germany, likely emerging during the medieval period. It is a surname typically found in German-speaking regions, with roots that can be traced back to the Old High German language. The name Zieger is derived from the German word “Ziege,” which means “goat.” It was likely used as a nickname for someone who herded goats or exhibited goat-like qualities in some way, which was a common practice for surnames at the time.

The earliest appearance of the name in historical documents can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in regions that are now parts of Germany and Austria. One of the early records includes a person named Johann Zieger, who was mentioned in a tax register in Bavaria around the year 1360. The name has also been found in the registers of various towns and cities throughout the Holy Roman Empire, indicating that it was relatively widespread even in medieval times.

During the late Middle Ages, the name Zieger became associated with several towns and villages, often indicating the profession or the characteristics of those who bore the name. In some cases, variations such as Ziegar and Ziger were recorded in old documents, showcasing the slight regional differences in spelling and pronunciation. For example, a record from the year 1450 in Vienna mentions a baker named Hans Ziger, indicating the presence of the surname in Austria.

The Zieger name continued to be relatively common in German-speaking areas. In the 16th century, Christoph Zieger, born in 1540 and died in 1605, was a well-known figure in Munich, where he served as a councilman. His contributions to the development of local laws and regulations were significant at the time.

In the 18th century, the name also appeared in Prussian military records. One notable individual was Karl Friedrich Zieger, a captain in the Prussian army who served during the War of Austrian Succession. Born in 1712, Karl Friedrich played a notable role in several key battles and later became an advisor to Frederick the Great. He died in 1775, leaving behind a legacy of military service and strategy.

In more recent historical contexts, the name Zieger has been associated with academic and scientific contributions. Franz Zieger, born in 1820 and died in 1890, was a renowned botanist and lecturer at the University of Heidelberg. His research on alpine flora contributed significantly to botanical sciences, and several plant species have been named in his honor.

Throughout history, the name Zieger has maintained its connection to the German-speaking regions of Europe. As families bearing the name emigrated, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, it also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. Despite the geographical spread, the name remains relatively rare and carries with it a rich historical significance tied to its Germanic roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zieger

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

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

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

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