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

Zwahlen, 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 Zwahlen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwahlen in America

Zwahlen is the 45569th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwahlen surname appeared 469 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 Zwahlen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwahlen 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 Zwahlen

The surname Zwahlen originates from Switzerland, specifically the German-speaking regions of the country. It is believed to have first appeared in the Canton of Bern during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th to 15th centuries. The name likely derives from the Middle High German word "swāl," meaning "melancholy" or "sorrow," which may refer to a characteristic of an individual or family.

There is no concrete evidence linking the name Zwahlen to specific historical manuscripts like the Domesday Book, as such catalogues do not typically cover Swiss names. The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to parish records and local documents in the Canton of Bern. Historical records show variations in spelling, including Swalen and Zwalen, due to the fluid nature of orthography in the medieval period.

One of the earliest individuals documented with the surname was Hans Zwahlen, born in 1585 in the Emmental region of Bern. He was noted for being a prominent landowner and local official. In the 17th century, another notable person was Jakob Zwahlen, born in 1623, who served as a member of the Bernese council and played a role in regional governance.

In the 18th century, the name continued to be prominent, with figures such as Peter Zwahlen, born in 1710, who was a well-known pastor and theologian in the Reformed Church of Switzerland. His works and influence extended beyond the ecclesiastical community, contributing to theological literature of the time.

The 19th century saw the emergence of individuals like Karl Zwahlen, born in 1845, who was an educator and author known for his contributions to Swiss educational reform and pedagogy.

During the same century, Rudolf Zwahlen, born in 1860, gained recognition as an architect who designed several notable buildings in the city of Bern, reflecting the architectural trends of the period.

The surname Zwahlen, while primarily concentrated in Switzerland, has also spread to neighboring countries over the centuries due to migration and socio-economic changes. The historical significance and contributions of individuals bearing this surname underscore its lasting presence in Swiss heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwahlen

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

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

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

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