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

Zurfluh, 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 Zurfluh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zurfluh in America

Zurfluh is the 48717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zurfluh surname appeared 433 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 Zurfluh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zurfluh 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 Zurfluh

The surname Zurfluh originates from Switzerland, particularly from the Canton of Uri in the Swiss Alps. It is a toponymic surname derived from the German roots "zur", meaning "to the," and "Fluh," which refers to a steep rock or cliff. Thus, the name Zurfluh essentially means "to the cliff" or "at the cliff," indicating that the origin of the name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent cliff or rocky area.

One of the first mentions of the surname Zurfluh appears in the Swiss historical records during the late Middle Ages. This region's rugged terrain and isolated villages led to the development of distinct surnames that were often descriptive of the local landscape. Historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries make references to individuals with the surname Zurfluh, although the precise spellings could vary slightly due to the period's inconsistent orthographic practices.

In the 1417 register of the Uri, a man named Heinrich Zurfluh is noted. This early appearance suggests that the family was already well-established in the area by the early 15th century. Over the subsequent centuries, the Zurfluh family remained prominent in the Urner community, often involved in agriculture and local governance.

By the 17th century, the name appears more consistently in church records and other legal documents. Johann Zurfluh, born in 1643, was a noted local figure who played a significant role in the administration of his village. Records from 1662 indicate that Johann held land near a notable cliff, which aligns with the etymology of the surname.

Another well-documented individual carrying the name was Margrit Zurfluh, born in 1721, who was recognized for her charitable works in the local community. During her lifetime, Margrit Zurfluh became known for her contributions to the church and her efforts to assist impoverished families in the canton.

In the 19th century, the name continued to be significant, with figures such as Karl Zurfluh, born in 1845, who became a noted engineer and contributed to the development of infrastructure in the Swiss Alps. His work, particularly in the building of bridges and roads through mountainous terrain, is well-documented and celebrated in Swiss engineering history.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, members of the Zurfluh family began to emigrate to other parts of Europe and the Americas, taking their distinctive surname with them. Among them was Anna Zurfluh, born in 1879, who emigrated to the United States in 1903. She went on to become a significant figure within the Swiss-American community in her adopted city, known for promoting Swiss culture and heritage.

Throughout history, the surname Zurfluh has maintained a strong connection to its Swiss roots, with a clear lineage traceable through historical records in the canton of Uri. The name itself continues to evoke images of the rugged and scenic terrain from which it originated, standing as a testament to the family's enduring legacy in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zurfluh

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

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

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

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