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

Zoerb, 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 Zoerb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zoerb in America

Zoerb is the 65593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zoerb surname appeared 302 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 Zoerb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zoerb 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 Zoerb

The surname Zoerb is believed to have its origins in Germany, specifically within the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. The name likely appeared in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th centuries. It is derived from the Old High German word "zurba," which means "to whirl" or "to twist," possibly indicating an occupational surname for someone involved in twisting or weaving textiles. Alternatively, it may relate to topographical features such as winding rivers or roads within the settlement areas.

Records from the late medieval period indicate that the Zoerb name was moderately prevalent in rural parts of Bavaria. Manuscripts and local administrative documents from the 15th and 16th centuries occasionally mention individuals with this surname, often in the context of land transactions and local governance. For example, a document from 1492 references a Heinrich Zoerb, a landholder in a village near Nuremberg.

The earliest recorded instances of the Zoerb surname appear in church baptismal records and feudal archives. One of the earliest known individuals is Hans Zoerb, born around 1450, who was a notable figure in local commerce in a Bavarian town. His purported involvement in the town's governance also provided a minor but memorable mention in the local annals.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Zoerb family name continued to appear in regional records. Johann Zoerb, born in 1611 and passed away in 1675, was a craftsman in Leipzig. He gained some prominence for his artisanal skills and is mentioned in the city's guild records.

Into the 19th century, the Zoerb surname appeared among German emigrants. Karl Zoerb, born in 1796, is documented in passenger lists as having migrated to America in search of new opportunities. His journey is illustrative of broader migratory patterns during that period and contributed to the spread of the surname to other parts of the world.

Additionally, records from the early 20th century include Emil Zoerb, born in 1874 and deceased in 1945, who was involved in German industrial developments. His contributions to manufacturing advancements were noted in specialized industrial journals of the time.

The surname Zoerb, although not exceedingly common, has a documented presence in historical records across several centuries, highlighting the diverse roles and geographical migrations of individuals and families bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zoerb

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

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

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

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