2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zuerner
A surname derived from a German word meaning "one who makes or operates lathes".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Zuerner. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zuerner surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Zuerner in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zuerner, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zuerner
The surname Zuerner is believed to have its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the German word "Zwirn," which means "twine" or "thread," suggesting that the bearers of the name may have been involved in the textile industry, specifically in twisting or spinning thread. The regions where the surname Zuerner was most commonly found include Saxony and Bavaria, areas known for their historic involvement in weaving and textiles.
The surname Zuerner has undergone several variations in spelling over the centuries, reflecting the fluid nature of medieval orthography. Some of the earlier forms included Zwirner, Zwern, and Zwurner. These variations can be found in numerous historical documents, such as church records, land deeds, and guild registries. For example, a 14th-century manuscript from Saxony refers to a Heinrich Zwirner, a master weaver, indicating the lineage's connection to the craft.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in its current form can be traced back to the 16th century. Johann Zuerner, born in 1560, was a noted citizen of Nuremberg and is mentioned in the city's tax records. His involvement in local commerce and the textile trade underscores the occupational origin of the surname. Another documented individual is Margarethe Zuerner, born in 1622, who was known for her contributions to the local weaving guild in Augsburg.
In the 18th century, the name continued to be associated with notable individuals in the textile industry. Wilhelm Zuerner, born in 1704, became famous for his innovations in thread production, gaining recognition beyond his native Saxony. His work was influential in the development of more efficient spinning techniques, which had a lasting impact on the industry.
Friedrich Zuerner, born in 1768, was another prominent figure bearing the surname. A resident of Munich, he was known for his scholarly works on the history of artisan guilds in Germany, providing valuable insight into the socio-economic conditions of his time. His meticulous documentation has been vital for historians studying the evolution of trade and craftsmanship.
Moving into the 19th century, the surname was borne by Karl Zuerner, born in 1823, who played a significant role in the industrialization of the textile industry in Bavaria. His efforts in modernizing old weaving techniques helped pave the way for the introduction of mechanical looms, which revolutionized textile production in the region.
The surname Zuerner, while not exceedingly common, has a rich history embedded in the craft of textiles and weaving. From its linguistic roots in medieval Germany to the notable contributions of individuals bearing the name over the centuries, the surname reflects a legacy of craftsmanship and innovation.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zuerner
Among Census respondents with the surname Zuerner, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Zuerner bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zuerner surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White96.1% · 98
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.9% · 3
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zuerner
Zuerner appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-6 bearers (-5.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 3,223 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -6 bearers (-5.6%) | Down 3,223 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zuerner surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #154,755 | -2.1% |
| Count | 108 | 102 | -5.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zuerner bearers went from 108 to 102 (-5.6% change). The surname moved down 3,223 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #154,755.
FAQ
Zuerner surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zuerner?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Zuerner. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Zuerner?
Zuerner ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 102 people with the surname Zuerner. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zuerner.
Has Zuerner become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zuerner went from 108 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 6 (-5.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #151,532 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Zuerner?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zuerner, the largest self-reported group is White at 96.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zuerner in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.1% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zuerner appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (96.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.9%), Two or More Races (1.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zuerner (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zuerner mean?
A surname derived from a German word meaning "one who makes or operates lathes". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zuerner (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zuerner?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people are called Zuerner at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.