2000
#125,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zisser
A surname derived from the German word "zisser" meaning "joiner" or "carpenter".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Zisser. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zisser 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
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Zisser in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zisser, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zisser
The surname Zisser has its origins in German-speaking areas of Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria. It likely emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "zise," which means "sweet" or "delicate." This etymological root suggests that the name could have been a nickname for someone with a pleasant demeanor or possibly for a producer of sweet goods, such as a confectioner.
Historical records from the 15th and 16th centuries in regions like Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia mention individuals with similar spellings, such as Ziss and Zieser. One of the earliest recorded individuals with a variant of this surname is Hans Ziss, a merchant mentioned in a trade document from Nuremberg in 1487. The name's variations indicate its spread and adaptation in different local dialects, which was common practice as people moved and settled in new regions.
In Austria, records from the early 17th century mention a Michael Zisser, a notable craftsman in the city of Salzburg. He was born in 1602 and gained recognition for his skill in metalwork, contributing to the local economy and arts. Another early mention of the name in Austrian records is a Wilhelm Zisser, a farmer documented in tax records from Styria in 1643. These records underline the name's prevalence among commoners engaged in various trades and professions.
During the 18th century, the name Zisser appeared in several regional registries across Germany and Austria. Johann Zisser, born in 1754, is a notable figure from this period. He was a respected academic in Vienna, known for his contributions to the fields of mathematics and natural sciences. His publications from the late 1700s are still referenced in historical studies of Austrian scientific achievements.
The spread of the surname Zisser to other parts of Europe can be traced through migration patterns, particularly during the 19th century when many individuals moved for economic opportunities or due to political upheavals. An interesting individual from this period is Heinrich Zisser, a political activist and writer born in 1823 in Berlin. His works in political theory and social reform were influential during the revolutionary movements of 1848, emphasizing the socio-political concerns of the era.
Several notable figures in the 20th century also bore the surname Zisser, indicating its persistence and continued relevance. Alexei Zisser, born in 1898 in Minsk, became a renowned composer and conductor, contributing significantly to the development of Eastern European classical music. His compositions are celebrated for their intricate melodies and cultural depth, leaving a lasting impact on the music scene.
In sum, the surname Zisser has a rich history rooted in medieval German-speaking regions, with its meaning tied to pleasantness or the production of sweet goods. From early tradesmen and farmers to academics, political activists, and artists, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions to their respective fields throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zisser
Among Census respondents with the surname Zisser, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Zisser 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 Zisser surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.9% · 116
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zisser
Zisser 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
#140,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
-7 bearers (-5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,518 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+2 bearers (+1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 1,152 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #125,639 | 126 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #140,157 | 119 | 0.04 | -7 bearers (-5.6%) | Down 14,518 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.7%) | Down 1,152 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 Zisser 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 | #140,157 | #141,309 | -0.8% |
| Count | 119 | 121 | 1.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zisser bearers went from 119 to 121 (+1.7% change). The surname moved down 1,152 positions in the national ranking, going from #140,157 to #141,309.
FAQ
Zisser surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zisser?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Zisser. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Zisser?
Zisser ranks #141,309 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 121 people with the surname Zisser. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), 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 Zisser.
Has Zisser become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zisser went from 119 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 2 (+1.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #140,157 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Zisser?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zisser, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.7%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Zisser in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.9% (116 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zisser appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.9%), Hispanic (1.7%), Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Zisser (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 Zisser mean?
A surname derived from the German word "zisser" meaning "joiner" or "carpenter". 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 Zisser (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 have the surname Zisser?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.