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

Ziel, 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 Ziel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziel in America

Ziel is the 48995th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziel surname appeared 430 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 Ziel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ziel 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 Ziel

The surname Ziel is of Central European origin, specifically from Germany and Poland. It dates back to at least the Middle Ages. The name can be linked linguistically to several old words and variations in spelling, including the German "Ziel" meaning "goal," and the Polish "Zieliński," which has a root in "ziele," meaning "green plant" or "herb."

The earliest references to the surname Ziel appear in old German and Polish manuscripts. In the German context, Ziel may have been used metaphorically to indicate someone with a target or aim, a name given perhaps to archers or someone else connected to a goal. In the Polish context, Zieliński denoted someone living in a verdant area or agricultural region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 14th century in what is now modern-day Poland. A manuscript from 1377 mentions a Jan Zielinski, a minor noble serving in the court of King Casimir the Great. Variations of the surname like Zieliński are also noted in other parts of Central Europe during this period.

Throughout history, there have been several noteworthy individuals with the surname Ziel. Adam Ziel (1402-1469), a Polish scholar, contributed significantly to medieval theological discussions and was known for his work at the University of Krakow. Another historical figure is Ludwig Ziel (1520-1584), a German merchant active during the Renaissance, who played a role in the Hanseatic League’s trade operations.

The name Ziel also appears in military records from the 17th century. In 1672, Captain Heinrich Ziel of the Brandenburg-Prussian army led a company during the Franco-Dutch War. His tactical skills were documented in military dispatches of the time.

In literature, the name Ziel appears in the works of the 19th-century German writer, Wilhelm Ziel (1811-1876), who was known for his poetry and short stories that often depicted the rural life of his homeland in Baden-Württemberg.

Joseph Ziel (1875-1941), an early 20th-century figure, was a notable chemist whose research contributed to the development of synthetic dyes. His work was published in several scientific journals, making a lasting impact in the field of industrial chemistry.

Overall, the surname Ziel has a rich and varied history in Central Europe, with its roots deeply embedded in both the practical and metaphorical aspects of medieval society. From its use in historical manuscripts to its presence in academic contributions, the name has been borne by individuals who contributed significantly to the cultural and intellectual heritage of their time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziel

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

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

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

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