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

Zuelke, 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 Zuelke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuelke in America

Zuelke is the 44730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuelke surname appeared 480 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 Zuelke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuelke 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 Zuelke

The surname Zuelke traces its origins back to Germany, specifically in the northern regions. The earliest records of similar names can be found around the 14th and 15th centuries in areas that are now part of modern-day Poland and Germany. Historically, names like Zuelsdorf or Zuelz could have been derivatives or closely related, as many Germanic surnames evolved through variations in spelling and regional dialects.

The name Zuelke appears to have roots in Germanic language, particularly Middle High German, where "zuel" could refer to a measure or a count, possibly indicating a family known for land measuring or accounting. Another possibility is that it may derive from a toponym, a place name perhaps associated with a family who lived near a notable Zuel or Suel, which could have been a feature like a hill or a water source.

One of the earliest documented uses of a variation of this surname is from a 16th-century land registry in the region now known as Mecklenburg, where a Hans Zuelcker was noted as a landowner. This suggests that the Zuelke family could have had a connection to the agricultural or landowning classes of the time.

Another historical figure is Johannes Zülke, born in 1623, a notable German merchant who contributed to trade between the Hanseatic cities. He is recorded in trade documents and letters held in the Lübeck City Archives. His presence underscores the economic activities that members of the Zuelke family engaged in during the 17th century.

The surname also appears in military records from the early 18th century. Lieutenant Friedrich Zuelke served in the Prussian army under Frederick the Great. His service is documented in the military annals and records preserved in the Berlin Staatsbibliothek.

A prominent 19th-century bearer of the name was Wilhelm Zuelke, an academic born in 1828, who made significant contributions to the field of early German literature. His works are still referenced in historical studies and are part of collections in the University of Heidelberg.

In addition, Ludwig Zuelke, an engineer born in 1856, played a crucial role in the industrial development of Saxony. His work in the development of early railway systems is documented in the archives of the Deutsche Bahn.

The surname’s journey through history highlights the diverse roles played by individuals with the name Zuelke, from landownership and trade to military service and academic contributions. As it continued to evolve through various spellings, the name maintained its distinct Germanic roots and presence in historical records.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuelke

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

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

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

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