2000
#129,619
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zirger
An Americanized or anglicized variant of the German surname Zürger, meaning someone from the city of Zürch.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Zirger. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zirger 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Zirger in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zirger, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zirger
The surname Zirger is believed to originate from the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly from areas that are part of present-day Germany and Austria. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, roughly between the 12th and 15th centuries, a time when surnames became necessary due to growing populations.
Zirger is derived from the Middle High German word zirker, which refers to a roper or maker of ropes. In medieval societies, surnames often originated from a person's occupation, and a zirker was a specialized craftsman who played an essential role in everyday life by making and repairing ropes used in various activities, such as farming, shipping, and construction.
Historical records from the early 13th century mention a Hans Zirger, a ropemaker from Frankfurt, whose name appears in a guild registry around 1225. Guilds were critical in maintaining standards and training within various crafts during that period, and the guild registry provides evidence of the professional standing of individuals bearing the surname Zirger.
Another early reference to the name can be found in a 14th-century manuscript from Vienna, which details the transactions of a Johann Zirger, a ropemaster involved in the construction of a cathedral. This connection highlights the importance of the craft in significant architectural projects of the time.
By the 15th century, the surname Zirger began appearing in court documents and land deeds. For instance, records from 1469 mention Heinrich Zirger, a landowner and farmer in the Bavarian region, who was involved in a legal dispute over property boundaries. These documents provide insight into the spread of the name across various social strata.
In the 16th century, a notable mention is found in military records from the Holy Roman Empire, where Georg Zirger, a soldier born in 1525, served in the imperial army during the conflicts of the Protestant Reformation. His service and subsequent recognition reflect the broader participation of individuals with this surname in significant historical events.
Towards the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the name appears in parish records from the town of Salzburg, where a Michael Zirger, born in 1578 and a noted musician, became well-known for his contributions to the local church's musical liturgy. This connection to cultural and artistic endeavors highlights the surname's association with various facets of society beyond pure craftsmanship.
Throughout history, the surname Zirger has maintained a presence in regions historically influenced by Germanic culture. Its origins in an occupational craft have allowed it to endure through centuries, adapting and appearing in various contexts, from guilds and trade associations to military and cultural institutions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zirger
Among Census respondents with the surname Zirger, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Zirger 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 Zirger surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5% · 108
- Hispanic or Latino4.2% · 5
- Two or more races4.2% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zirger
Zirger appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#114,424
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 153
+32 bearers (+26.4%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 15,195 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-35 bearers (-22.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 29,087 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #129,619 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #114,424 | 153 | 0.05 | +32 bearers (+26.4%) | Up 15,195 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | -35 bearers (-22.9%) | Down 29,087 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 Zirger 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 | #114,424 | #143,511 | -25.4% |
| Count | 153 | 118 | -22.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -21.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zirger bearers went from 153 to 118 (-22.9% change). The surname moved down 29,087 positions in the national ranking, going from #114,424 to #143,511.
FAQ
Zirger surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zirger?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Zirger. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Zirger?
Zirger ranks #143,511 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 118 people with the surname Zirger. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), 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 Zirger.
Has Zirger become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zirger went from 153 recorded bearers to 118. That is a decrease of 35 (-22.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #114,424 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Zirger?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zirger, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.2%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). 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 Zirger in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.5% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zirger appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.5%), Hispanic (4.2%), Two or More Races (4.2%). 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 Zirger (2000, 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 Zirger mean?
An Americanized or anglicized variant of the German surname Zürger, meaning someone from the city of Zürch. 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 Zirger (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 common is the surname Zirger?
You can see how many people have the last name Zirger on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.