Zingg last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zingg

A Swiss German surname derived from the word "Zing", meaning a small mountain ridge.

Zingg, 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 Zingg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zingg in America

Zingg is the 43006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zingg surname appeared 503 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 Zingg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zingg 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 43006 39617 8.20%
Count 503 522 -3.71%
Proportion per 100k 0.17 0.19 -11.11%

The history of the last name Zingg

The surname Zingg is of Swiss-German origin, specifically stemming from the German-speaking regions of Switzerland. The name finds its roots in the medieval period, particularly in the regions of Zurich, St. Gallen, and Thurgau. The earliest forms of the name appear in documents from the late 13th century, indicating a long history within these Swiss territories.

The etymology of the surname suggests it is derived from the Middle High German word zingel, which referred to a rampart or protective wall. This implies that the original bearers of the name may have lived near or worked on such structures. Variations of the surname, such as Zing or Zingen, can be found in historical records, and these variations were common prior to the standardization of surnames.

Historical references to the name Zingg appear in various records. One notable record is a 1290 manuscript from Zurich, which mentions a Wilhelm Zingel, likely an early form of the surname. The name also appears in church records and tax registers from the 14th and 15th centuries, illustrating the family’s longstanding presence in these areas.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname include figures such as Heinrich Zingg, who is mentioned in a 1364 tax register from St. Gallen, and Margaretha Zinggin, whose name appears in a marriage record from 1492 in Thurgau. These early examples indicate that the surname was already well-established by the late medieval period.

Prominent individuals bearing the surname Zingg include Johann Jakob Zingg (1723-1767), a noted Swiss painter who achieved recognition for his landscape artworks. Another influential figure is Julius Zingg (1880-1939), a Swiss politician who played a significant role in local government. The name is also carried by Paul Zingg (b. 1947), an American historian and academic, recognized for his contributions to higher education.

Further illustrating the surname’s historical depth, one finds Andreas Zingg (1821-1895), noted for his involvement in the Swiss industrial movement during the 19th century. Wendelin Zingg (1754-1832), a clergyman from Thurgau, made significant contributions to religious and educational reforms in the region.

Overall, the surname Zingg has a rich and deep-seated history within Swiss-German culture, spanning several centuries and encompassing a variety of notable individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields. The name's origin linked to medieval constructions further illuminates the historical context from which it emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zingg

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

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 Zingg was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.86% 452
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 8.55% 43

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 Zingg has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 89.86% 94.44% -4.97%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 8.55% 4.02% 72.08%

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

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

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"Zingg last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zingg-surname-popularity/.

"Zingg last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zingg-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Zingg last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zingg-surname-popularity/.

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