2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Ziesing
A German occupational surname referring to a cheese maker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Ziesing. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ziesing surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Ziesing in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziesing, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.5%) and Two or More Races (4.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ziesing
The surname Ziesing has its roots in Germany, where it originates from the central and eastern regions. It likely emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries, during a time when surnames were becoming hereditary. The name Ziesing may be derived from an occupational or descriptive term, and its early iterations could be traced to various dialectical influences in German-speaking areas.
The etymology of Ziesing can be connected to the Germanic word siegen, meaning "to win" or "to be victorious." Another possibility is that it stems from ziesen or züssing, which could have referred to a specific characteristic or profession, although this hypothesis remains less certain. Historical documents from the medieval period show the name in varying spellings, such as Ziesing, Ziesinger, or Züsing, depending on the region and era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ziesing appears in a 14th-century manuscript from the region of Thuringia, which was a significant cultural and economic center in medieval Germany. This document refers to a Claus Ziesing, a landholder who lived around 1377. This early mention indicates the surname's presence in central Germany during a period marked by feudalism and the rise of local nobility.
Another historical reference to the surname can be found in a 15th-century tax record from Saxony, where a Heinrich Ziesing is listed as a craftsman. His role suggests that the name might have been associated with skilled labor or trade, indicative of the economic activities prevalent in that region during that period.
A notable figure bearing the surname was Johann Ziesing, born in 1685 in Leipzig, who was known for his contributions to early German music. His compositions and performances were documented in various cultural archives and historical records from the early 18th century, reflecting the surname’s association with artistry and intellectual pursuits.
In the late 18th century, Georg Friedrich Ziesing, born in 1762, emerged as a significant figure in scientific circles. Residing in Berlin, he was known for his work in natural sciences, and his publications had a considerable influence on his contemporaries. His legacy is preserved in several academic records and letters from that era.
Another member of the Ziesing lineage is Karl Ziesing, an influential figure in 19th-century German politics, born in 1821. He played a role in local governance and was involved in various political reforms in Prussia during a time of great change and modernization. His contributions are documented in local government records and historical accounts of Prussian political history.
The surname continued to be prominent into the 20th century, with figures such as Wilhelm Ziesing, born in 1884, who became well-known in the field of engineering. His innovations and patents in industrial machinery marked significant advancements during the early 20th century, as documented in engineering journals and patent registries of the period.
The surname Ziesing thus reflects a rich tapestry of historical, cultural, and occupational associations, with its roots firmly embedded in the Germanic linguistic and cultural heritage. Over centuries, bearers of the name have made their mark in various fields, contributing to the historical legacy and continuing to influence future generations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ziesing
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziesing, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.5%) and Two or More Races (4.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Ziesing bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ziesing surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.2% · 89
- Hispanic or Latino6.5% · 7
- Two or more races4.7% · 5
- American Indian and Alaska Native3.7% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ziesing
Ziesing appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+5 bearers (+4.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,793 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.9%) | Up 6,793 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Ziesing surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #151,639 | 4.3% |
| Count | 102 | 107 | 4.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 19.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ziesing bearers went from 102 to 107 (+4.9% change). The surname moved up 6,793 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #151,639.
FAQ
Ziesing surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ziesing?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Ziesing. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Ziesing?
Ziesing ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Ziesing. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Ziesing.
Has Ziesing become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ziesing went from 102 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 5 (+4.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Ziesing?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziesing, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.5%) and Two or More Races (4.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Ziesing in the 2020 Census, accounting for 83.2% (89 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ziesing appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (83.2%), Hispanic (6.5%), Two or More Races (4.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Ziesing (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Ziesing mean?
A German occupational surname referring to a cheese maker. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Ziesing (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Ziesing?
Find out how many people have the surname Ziesing on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.