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

Zirkle, 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 Zirkle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zirkle in America

Zirkle is the 11404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zirkle surname appeared 2,765 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zirkle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zirkle 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 Zirkle

The surname Zirkle originated in Germany, specifically in the southern regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is believed to have emerged around the 15th or 16th century. The name is derived from the German word "Zirkel," which means "circle" or "compass." This suggests that the name may have been originally associated with a profession or trade involving circles, such as a cartographer, surveyor, or craftsman working with circular objects.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zirkle can be found in the town of Günzburg, located in the modern-day state of Bavaria, Germany. In a document dated 1548, a certain Hans Zirkle is mentioned as a resident of the town. This document provides valuable insight into the historical presence of the name in that particular region.

Another notable early reference to the name Zirkle comes from the town of Welzheim in the state of Baden-Württemberg. In a church record from 1632, a Johannes Zirkle is listed as having been born in the town. This record helps establish the geographical spread of the name across different regions of southern Germany during that time period.

In the 17th century, a man named Johann Zirkle (1652-1712) gained recognition as a skilled clockmaker and metalworker in the city of Augsburg, which was renowned for its craftsmanship. His work exemplified the precision and attention to detail associated with the name's possible origins.

During the 18th century, a family by the name of Zirkle rose to prominence in the town of Öhringen, located in the present-day state of Baden-Württemberg. Johann Georg Zirkle (1722-1801), a successful merchant and landowner, played a significant role in the town's economic and social affairs.

In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Zirkle was Friedrich Zirkle (1816-1892), a respected educator and author from the city of Stuttgart. He published several influential works on pedagogy and educational reform, leaving a lasting impact on the educational system in the region.

It is worth noting that the name Zirkle has been subject to various spellings throughout history, such as Zirkl, Zirkel, and Zürkel. These variations reflect regional dialects and differences in pronunciation. Additionally, the name has been associated with certain place names, such as Zirkelbach, a small village in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, which may have contributed to the formation of the surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zirkle

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

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

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

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