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

Zollinger, 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 Zollinger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zollinger in America

Zollinger is the 15442nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zollinger surname appeared 1,897 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 Zollinger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zollinger 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 Zollinger

The surname Zollinger has its origins in Switzerland, specifically from the canton of Zürich. The name can be traced back to the Alemannic-German culture in the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from an occupational term related to the word Zoll, meaning toll or tariff, likely referring to someone who worked as a toll collector or was in charge of customs duties.

The term Zollinger is rooted in the Old High German word zolah, evolving through Middle High German into its current form. It was common for surnames during this period to reflect occupations, locations, or characteristics of the individual or family. The suffix -inger denotes association or origin, thus Zollinger essentially means a person connected with or responsible for tolls.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name dates back to the 14th century in Swiss historical records. By 1349, a document referred to a Johannes Zollinger in the Zürcher Steuerbuch, a tax book from Zurich, providing evidence of the name's historical lineage. This suggests that the name was well established and linked with administrative or civic duties in medieval Swiss society.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the name Zollinger have made notable contributions. For example, Jakob Zollinger (1821-1880) was a Swiss botanist who contributed significantly to the field of plant taxonomy. Another prominent figure is Konrad Zollinger (1904-1980), a Swiss architect known for his innovative designs and contributions to modernist architecture.

In the 16th century, the name appears in church and municipal records, such as parish registries, further establishing the enduring presence of the Zollinger family. These records often list families in conjunction with land ownership and economic activities, reinforcing the occupational origins of the surname.

Friedrich Zollinger (1880-1945), a German architect, is notable for developing the Zollinger lamella roof, an innovative construction method that gained international recognition. His legacy in architectural engineering highlights the technical ingenuity associated with the name.

Another distinguished person is Andreas Zollinger, an 18th-century Swiss watchmaker whose craftsmanship and precision were highly respected in the horology community. His work contributed to the reputation of Swiss watches as exemplars of quality and reliability.

Lastly, Richard Zollinger (1859-1948), an American surgeon known for the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a medical condition that impacts gastric acid secretion. His research and findings have had a lasting impact on the field of gastroenterology.

In summary, the surname Zollinger has a rich history rooted in medieval Switzerland, associated primarily with occupational roles related to toll collection. It has been carried by many notable individuals across various fields, including botany, architecture, watchmaking, and medicine, each contributing to the legacy of the name across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zollinger

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

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

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

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