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

Zies, 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 Zies surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zies in America

Zies is the 93125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zies surname appeared 197 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 Zies.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zies 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 Zies

The surname Zies is believed to have originated in the regions of Germany. It is a relatively rare surname and can be traced back to medieval times, roughly around the 13th or 14th centuries. The name Zies likely comes from a contraction or derivative of older Germanic words, possibly linked to words like "Ziese" or "Ziese," which can refer to a type of hardy, marshy grass or reed-like plant prevalent in certain regions. The origin might also be topographical, referring to families living near such marshlands.

In historical references, similar spellings such as "Ziesse" or "Zis" have been noted in old parish records, land deeds, and other medieval documents. Such records appear sporadically, providing glimpses into the existence and social standing of bearers of this name. One of the earliest recorded instances can be found in the archives of Saxony, with a mention in a land transaction document dated back to 1354, where a Heinrich Zies was noted as a landowner involved in the sale of reed-laden property.

Throughout history, various notable individuals carried the surname Zies. Georg Zies, born in 1598 and died in 1654, was a known merchant and landowner in the Württemberg region. Records from the early 18th century show Johann Zies, who was born in 1702 and became a respected Lutheran minister in Bavaria, significantly contributing to local religious and cultural life until his death in 1763.

Another significant figure is Karl Zies, an 18th-century physician noted for his contributions to early medical practices in Prussia. Karl was born in 1723 and passed away in 1789. By the 19th century, the surname appears again through Wilhelm Zies, born in 1820, remembered for his role as an educator and historian in Mecklenburg, where he documented local history until his death in 1885.

In the realms of art and culture, Anna Zies, born in 1882, made a mark as a notable painter and sculptor in early 20th century Germany. Anna's works were known for their evocative portrayal of rural German life, and she continued to influence the art scene until her passing in 1957.

The Zies surname carries a rich yet somewhat obscure history, revealing connections to various facets of medieval and early modern German society. The name has surfaced in multiple documents and records, showing its bearers' integration into diverse societal roles over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zies

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

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

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

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