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

Ziehl, 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 Ziehl surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziehl in America

Ziehl is the 53072nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziehl surname appeared 390 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 Ziehl.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ziehl 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 Ziehl

The surname Ziehl has its origins in Germany, specifically in the regions of northern and central Germany. The name first began to appear in historical records in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th to 15th centuries. It is associated with areas such as Leipzig and Saxony, regions known for their rich medieval history and linguistic contributions. The name is believed to be derived from a Middle High German word or names like Cäcilia and its diminutive form Zeile, meaning “row” or “line,” which may have related to occupations or features of the landscape.

The surname Ziehl has appeared in several historical documents, providing insights into its early usage. For instance, a notable mention of the name appears in municipal records from Leipzig in the early 16th century, where a Heinrich Ziehl is documented as a landowner around the year 1516. These early records indicate that the name was relatively well-established in local communities, likely tied to specific trades or land divisions.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Balthasar Ziehl, born in 1467, who was known to be a merchant in Saxony. His business dealings and community contributions were documented in regional trade logs and municipal records, highlighting the prominence of the Ziehl family in commercial activities during this period. Another significant historical figure was Johann Ziehl, born in 1534, a renowned figure in Leipzig known for his involvement in local politics and trade guilds.

In the late 17th century, the name Ziehl gained further prominence through Lorenz Ziehl, an academic born in 1671, who is noted for his influential writings and academic contributions in the field of natural sciences. His work is still referenced in historical manuscripts and university records from that era.

Another influential individual was Hans Ziehl, born in 1823, who played a key role in the development of early industrial enterprises in northern Germany. His contributions to the burgeoning industrial sector were notable enough to be recorded in trade directories and industrial manuals of the time.

The legacy of the surname Ziehl continued into the 20th century with Friedrich August Ziehl, born in 1854, a noted bacteriologist. He developed the Ziehl-Neelsen stain, a differential staining technique used to identify mycobacteria, which remains a significant contribution to medical science. His pioneering work is still widely referenced in modern medical literature and microbiology studies.

The surname Ziehl, with its various historical bearers and documented origins, underscores a rich and multifaceted legacy rooted in German culture and history. This legacy is characterized by notable contributions across different fields such as commerce, academics, and science, tracing back to its medieval origins in central and northern Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziehl

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

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

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

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