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

Zier, 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 Zier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zier in America

Zier is the 28940th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zier surname appeared 821 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 Zier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zier 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 Zier

The surname Zier is believed to have its origins in Germany during the medieval period. It is particularly associated with the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. The name may be derived from the Middle High German word "zier(e)" which means "ornament" or "decoration". This suggests that the name could have originally been a nickname for someone who was considered to be particularly attractive or a reference to an occupation related to decoration, such as a craftsman or artist.

The earliest references to the surname can be found in medieval German records. One of the earliest documented appearances is in the 14th century, in the region around Nuremberg. During this time, Germany was made up of numerous small principalities and free cities, making centralized record-keeping sporadic. The surname appears in various forms, including Ziere and Zierer, which indicates that spelling variations were common given the lack of standardized orthography.

A significant historical mention of the surname Zier can be found in the records of the Hanseatic League during the late Middle Ages. The Hanseatic League was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe. The Zier family name is recorded in connection with trade activities in cities such as Lübeck and Hamburg.

Mathias Zier von Bamberg, born in 1415 and died in 1478, was one of the most noted individuals carrying this surname during the medieval period. He was a guild master known for his craftsmanship in woodwork and contributed significantly to the decorative elements of Bamberg Cathedral. His work has been preserved and studied by art historians as a notable example of Gothic German craftsmanship.

Another prominent figure was Elisabeth Zier, born in 1523 and died in 1587, who was a midwife in the city of Augsburg. Her meticulous records and work were unusual for the time and have provided valuable insights into medical practices of her era. She was renowned for her skills and was called upon by many families of high status within her community.

In the 18th century, Johann Friedrich Zier, born in 1749 and died in 1812, achieved fame as a poet and composer in Dresden. His contributions to German Romantic literature and music are still recognized today, with some of his works being included in anthologies of 18th-century German poetry.

In the 19th century, Carl Zier, born in 1827 and died in 1888, was well-known as an industrialist in Berlin. He owned a manufacturing company that produced decorative ironwork, which was used in many significant architectural projects throughout Germany, including the restoration of Cologne Cathedral.

Another notable individual was Marie Zier, born in 1883 and died in 1962, who was a pioneering aviator in the early 20th century. She was one of the first women in Germany to receive a pilot's license and made several noted cross-country flights, inspiring many young women to pursue careers in aviation.

The surname Zier continues to be found in various forms throughout the world, particularly in areas where German immigrants settled, such as the United States and South America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zier

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

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

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

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