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

Zurcher, 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 Zurcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zurcher in America

Zurcher is the 19966th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zurcher surname appeared 1,343 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 Zurcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zurcher 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 Zurcher

The surname Zurcher originates from Switzerland, specifically from the region surrounding the city of Zurich. First appearing in the medieval period, the name is derived from the Swiss German word for Zurich, "Zürich" with the suffix "-er" indicating a person from that place, effectively meaning "a person from Zurich." Zurich itself has roots dating back to the Roman times when it was called "Turicum."

Historical references to the surname show that it was already present by the 14th century. Early records mention the name in various municipal documents and tax registries, reflecting the administrative and social structures of the time. These mentions align closely with the rise of Zurich as a significant hub in the Holy Roman Empire.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Heinrich Zurcher, born around 1312 in Zurich, a noteworthy merchant whose activities were documented in the city’s trade records. His involvement in the burgeoning textile industry helped cement the Zurcher name in Swiss economic history.

Another prominent individual, Hans Jakob Zurcher, born in 1498 and died in 1579, played a notable role in Zurich’s governance during the Swiss Reformation. His leadership and support for reformist movements were significant in aligning Zurich more closely with Protestant principles.

In the 17th century, one finds reference to Rudolf Zurcher, born in 1634 and passing away in 1701, who was a learned figure contributing to Swiss cartography. His detailed mapping of Lake Zurich and its surroundings provided later generations with invaluable geographic knowledge, further propelling the Zurcher name in academic circles.

Toward the 18th century, Maria Anna Zurcher, born 1762 and dying in 1835, became one of the first women in Zurich to own and operate a successful family-run inn. Her establishment became renowned for its hospitality and fine local cuisine, ideal for traders and travelers.

In the world of science, Emil Zurcher, born in 1845 and dying in 1916, was a pioneering engineer during the industrial revolution in Switzerland. His engineering works and innovations in bridge construction left a lasting legacy on Swiss infrastructure, exemplified by his famous designs crossing multiple valleys and waterways.

Today, the Zurcher surname continues to be associated with traits of industriousness, academic achievement, and a deep connection to Swiss heritage, resonating through centuries of documented history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zurcher

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

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

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

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