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

Zurbrugg, 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 Zurbrugg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zurbrugg in America

Zurbrugg is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zurbrugg surname appeared 182 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 Zurbrugg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zurbrugg 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 Zurbrugg

The surname Zurbrugg has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, particularly in the canton of Bern. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, with records suggesting it was in use during the 13th and 14th centuries. The roots of the name lie in the German language, where "zur" means "to the" or "at the," and "Brugg" is a dialectical variant of "Brücke," meaning "bridge." Hence, the surname Zurbrugg essentially translates to "at the bridge," indicating that early bearers of the name likely lived near or were associated with a bridge.

Zurbrugg is related to other surnames such as Brügg, Bruggmann, and similar variations that also denote a connection to bridges. Documentation from Swiss historical records, such as land grants, church records, and tax registers, mention the name Zurbrugg. For instance, a 14th-century document found in the archives of the Bernese Oberland references a Johannes Zurbrugg, establishing the usage of the name during that era.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Zurbrugg is Peter Zurbrugg, a farmer from the Bernese Oberland mentioned in a 1392 land transaction. Another early mention includes a Hans Zurbrugg, recorded in a 1489 military register, indicating the family's involvement in local defense forces. During the 17th century, the name appears more frequently in church records, reflecting the growth and spread of families bearing the surname.

By the 18th century, the Zurbrugg family had become well established in the region. A notable figure from this period is Ulrich Zurbrugg, born in 1725, who was a successful merchant and respected community leader in the canton of Bern. His contributions to local trade and economy were well-regarded, and his lineage can still be traced in the area.

In the 19th century, the name began to appear outside Switzerland as families emigrated. One significant figure is Johann Jakob Zurbrugg (1840–1906), who moved to the United States and became a prominent hotelier in Philadelphia. The surname also appears in historical ship records and immigration documents, further indicating the mobility of bearers during this period.

Another important individual from the early 20th century is Albert Zurbrugg (1893–1965), a noted Swiss engineer who made significant advancements in bridge construction and design. His work helped modernize infrastructure in various parts of Switzerland, leaving a lasting legacy associated with the very essence of the name.

Overall, the surname Zurbrugg carries a rich historical narrative tied to geographical features, migration patterns, and notable contributions to society. Its evolution from a simple location-based name to a marker of distinguished individuals highlights the depth and diversity within this surname's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zurbrugg

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

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

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

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