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

Zuercher, 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 Zuercher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuercher in America

Zuercher is the 23555th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuercher surname appeared 1,078 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 Zuercher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuercher 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 Zuercher

The surname Zuercher has its origins in Switzerland, specifically derived from the city of Zurich, which is in the German-speaking part of the country. The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th century, when surnames began to be commonly used in Europe. Originally, it was a toponymic surname, signifying that the bearer was from Zurich. The earliest forms of the name were Zürcher, meaning "of Zurich."

Old documents and records from the region provide crucial insights into the surname’s history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in various Swiss municipal records. Historical references to the name often appear in civic documents from Zurich and surrounding areas. An influential early mention is found in the Zürich City Book (Stadtbuch von Zürich) from 1336, which records various local families and their contributions to public life.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the surname was Johannes Zürcher, a 15th-century Swiss merchant born in Zurich around 1420 and known for his trade dealings across Switzerland and southern Germany. His family was influential in Zurich's economic sphere, contributing to the city's growth during the late Middle Ages.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Zürcher had varied spellings, including Zuercher and Zurcher, depending on regional dialects and transcription methods. Another significant figure from this period was Heinrich Zürcher, born in Zurich in 1560, who was known for his academic contributions and involvement in the Reformation movement in Switzerland.

Another notable figure bearing the surname was Ulrich Zuercher, born in 1708, who emigrated to Pennsylvania, United States, in the early 18th century. He was among the many Swiss and German emigrants who left Europe seeking religious freedom and economic opportunities, helping to establish the Swiss-German communities in the New World.

In the 19th century, Johann Jakob Zürcher, born in 1826, became an important Swiss political figure and theologian, advocating for public education reforms in Zurich. His works and influence continued to be significant in shaping Zurich’s educational policies in the latter half of the 19th century.

Lastly, Samuel Zuercher, born in 1865, is another noteworthy individual. He was a Swiss painter known for his landscapes and portrayal of Swiss rural life. His works remain well-regarded in Swiss art history and contribute to the cultural heritage of the region.

The surname Zuercher remains a testament to the rich cultural and historical tapestry of Zurich, reflecting centuries of social, economic, and intellectual contributions from those who bear the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuercher

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

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

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

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