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

Zuker, 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 Zuker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuker in America

Zuker is the 58604th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuker surname appeared 346 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 Zuker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuker 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 Zuker

The surname Zuker is of Germanic and Yiddish origin, tracing its roots back to the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe. The name is derived from the German word "Zucker" and the Yiddish "Tsuker," both meaning "sugar." This etymology suggests that the original bearers of the name would have been involved in the trade or production of sugar or confectionery.

The earliest records of the surname Zuker can be traced back to the medieval period, particularly within the regions that today make up Germany, Austria, and Poland. Manuscripts and community records from Jewish ghettos often included the surname, indicating its prevalence among Ashkenazi Jews. These records predate the widespread adoption of hereditary surnames following the 1787 decree by Emperor Joseph II of Austria, which required Jews in his empire to adopt permanent surnames.

One early reference to the surname Zuker can be found in tax records from the 15th century in the city of Frankfurt, Germany. These records document a Jakob Zuker, a merchant known for trading in goods such as sugar and spices. While details about his birth and death are scarce, his prominence as a trader underscores the occupational origins of the surname.

In the 18th century, the name appears in Polish records, including the 1748 Kraków census, which lists a Moshe Zuker, identified as a "cukiernik" or sugar confectioner. His role within the community highlights a similar link to the sweet trade, as Kraków was a vital hub for both commerce and Jewish life.

Another notable figure is Rabbi Avraham Zuker, born in 1820 and active in Lublin, Poland. He was renowned not only for his rabbinical teachings but also for his involvement in local trade, aligning with the etymological roots of his surname. Rabbi Zuker contributed to religious scholarship until his death in 1895.

Moving into the 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Zuker became more widespread across Europe and the United States, coinciding with waves of Jewish emigration. Benjamin Zuker, born in 1865 in Vilnius, Lithuania, was a notable example. He emigrated to New York in the late 19th century, where he established a successful business importing and selling confectionery products. He died in 1935, leaving behind a thriving enterprise.

Another distinguished individual is Dr. Ita Zuker, a Hungarian-born doctor born in 1878. She made significant contributions to medical research in Vienna before relocating to the United States in the early 20th century, where she continued her work. Dr. Zuker's medical advancements were recognized widely until her passing in 1949.

The Zuker surname also appears in the arts, with Leonard Zuker, born in 1901 in Berlin, Germany. Leonard moved to Paris in the 1920s, becoming a noted painter whose works were influenced by the vibrant cultural milieu of the time. Despite the challenges of World War II, Leonard's legacy endured through his contribution to modern European art until his death in 1962.

Throughout its history, the surname Zuker reflects a lineage deeply entwined with trade, particularly in sugar and confectionery, consistent with its etymological origins. The surname's historical trajectory from medieval Europe to modern times illustrates the cultural and occupational identity of the bearers, making it a significant marker of Jewish heritage and economic activity across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuker

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

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

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

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