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

Zuleger, 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 Zuleger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuleger in America

Zuleger is the 38389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuleger surname appeared 577 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 Zuleger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuleger 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 Zuleger

The surname Zuleger originates from Germany, specifically within the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. The name dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. Zuleger is derived from an occupational name: the Old High German term "zolliger," which evolved into Middle High German as "zuleger," referring to a toll collector or customs officer. These were individuals responsible for collecting taxes on goods brought into or exported from certain areas.

Early records of the surname Zuleger appear sporadically, often associated with official duties in the Holy Roman Empire. Documentation from the 14th century shows the presence of individuals bearing the surname in administrative roles. One such record from 1375 in Saxony mentions a Heinrich Zuleger, who was employed by the local duchy to oversee trade tariffs.

In the 15th century, another notable mention of the name appears in the town records of Nuremberg. Johann Zuleger, born in 1420 and deceased in 1478, served as a customs official and later as a magistrate, contributing to the enforcement of trade regulations. His role was crucial during a time when Nuremberg was a significant commercial hub in Central Europe.

The surname is also found in ecclesiastical records. Franz Zuleger, born in 1492 and passed in 1544, was a noteworthy figure who held a position in the church administration in Würzburg. His duties included managing church properties and ensuring that required tithes and taxes were collected, reflecting the administrative origins of the surname.

Genealogical documents from the 17th century indicate the spread of the Zuleger name to Austrian territories, with records showing a Matthias Zuleger in Vienna, who was born in 1620 and died in 1685. Matthias was noted for his involvement in overseeing the flow of goods through the city's major trade routes, continuing the occupational lineage of the name.

In the 19th century, the surname began to appear in civil registries as immigration occurred. One emigrant, Albert Zuleger, born in 1825, emigrated to the United States in 1852, bringing the name overseas. His descendants contributed to local governance in their new communities, even retaining the historical connection to customs and regulations.

Throughout history, the surname Zuleger has maintained a thematic connection to trade, customs, and administration. The shifts in regions and records highlight its occupational origins, reflecting the role that individuals with this name played in medieval and early modern European commerce and governance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuleger

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

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

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

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