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

Zuehlke, 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 Zuehlke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuehlke in America

Zuehlke is the 22319th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuehlke surname appeared 1,155 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 Zuehlke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuehlke 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 Zuehlke

The surname Zuehlke finds its origins in Germany, primarily within Prussian regions and other parts of Eastern Europe influenced by Germanic roots. It is closely associated with the Eastern Pomeranian region, which is now part of modern-day Poland but historically had a significant German population. The name's origins can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries, a time of considerable migration and shifting borders that contributed to the spread of surnames across Central Europe.

The etymology of Zuehlke links back to Germanic roots where it is believed to derive from the word "Zülch" or "Zülle," which can imply a marker of land or field, often indicating a familial connection to a specific place or territory. Variations in spelling such as Zülke, Zülchke, and Zuehlcke have been observed in older manuscripts, demonstrating minor dialectal differences and the fluidity of surname spellings over time.

Historical references of the surname Zuehlke are sporadic but significant. One notable mention is in regional parish records from the 18th century in Eastern Pomerania, where families bearing the surname were registered. This establishes the name's presence and persistence in the area prior to widespread documentation practices that came in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Zuehlke appears in church records from the early 1700s in Pomerania. Johann Zuehlke, born in 1723, is one of the earliest documented individuals with this surname. These church records often detailed births, marriages, and deaths, offering a glimpse into the genealogical history of the name.

Another notable bearer of the name was Heinrich Zuehlke, a farmer documented in mid-19th century Brandenburg. His farming records provide insight into the agrarian lifestyle and landownership patterns of the era. Similarly, a schoolmaster named Ludwig Zuehlke was recorded in Mecklenburg-Schwerin in the late 19th century, indicating the family's integration into various professional roles within society.

Further afield, Ernst Zuehlke emigrated to the United States in the late 1800s, becoming a part of the wave of German immigrants who sought new opportunities abroad. His descendants continued to carry the surname in North America, contributing to the cultural and demographic tapestry of their new homeland.

In military history, Corporal Karl Zuehlke served in the German army during World War I, with records of his service appearing in military archives. Such documentation highlights the surname's presence in significant historical events and its influence within broader social and political contexts.

Lastly, Elisabeth Zuehlke, a midwife in early 20th-century Berlin, provides another noteworthy example. Her detailed records in municipal archives emphasize the vital roles individuals with the surname played within their communities, from healthcare to education and agriculture.

The surname Zuehlke, with its deep-rooted origins and varied historical references, encapsulates a rich legacy of Germanic lineage and Eastern European heritage, illustrating the enduring nature of family names across centuries and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuehlke

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!