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

Zurbuchen, 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 Zurbuchen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zurbuchen in America

Zurbuchen is the 93921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zurbuchen surname appeared 195 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 Zurbuchen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zurbuchen 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 Zurbuchen

The surname Zurbuchen originates from Switzerland, specifically from the German-speaking regions. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is a toponymic surname, which means it is derived from a place name. In this case, Zurbuchen likely means "by the beech trees," with "zur" meaning "to" or "by" in German and "Buchen" being the plural of "Buche," which means "beech tree."

The regions where the name Zurbuchen is most prevalent are within the Canton of Bern and its surroundings. Historically, these areas were densely forested with beech trees, which were significant landmarks. The name Zurbuchen might have been adopted by families living near prominent beech groves or possibly by those who worked with or traded in beech wood.

References to the surname can be found in parish records, land deeds, and tax registers dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. One of the earliest references to the name appears in the records of the city of Bern in the early 1500s, where a Hans Zurbuchen is listed as a landowner. This suggests the family was established and possibly influential in local agricultural or trade activities.

An early notable individual with this surname was Peter Zurbuchen (1534-1602), a craftsman known for his woodworking skills. His creations, particularly in the form of intricately carved furniture, were highly valued and have been mentioned in various guild records from that period.

In the 17th century, Elisabeth Zurbuchen (1625-1685) gained some recognition for her medicinal herb garden and the remedies she distributed within her community. Historical accounts describe her as a knowledgeable herbalist whose remedies were sought after by people from neighboring regions.

Moving into the 19th century, Johann Zurbuchen (1820-1889) became known for his work as a stonemason. He was involved in the construction of several churches and public buildings in Bern, leaving a legacy of craftsmanship in stone that stands to this day.

Progressing to the early 20th century, Hans Zurbuchen (1891-1975) was an academic who contributed to the field of astronomy. He was a professor at the University of Bern and published numerous papers on celestial mechanics. His work was recognized internationally, solidifying the Zurbuchen name in scientific circles.

Another prominent bearer of the surname in recent history is Thomas Zurbuchen (b. 1968), an astrophysicist and an associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Born in Switzerland, his contributions to space science, including involvement in major missions and research, have brought significant attention and esteem to the Zurbuchen surname in the modern scientific community.

The surname Zurbuchen has thus had a varied and rich history, with notable contributions across different fields and centuries. It is symbolic of its geographical and natural origins, while also representing the diverse accomplishments of those who have borne the name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zurbuchen

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!