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

Zwahr, 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 Zwahr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwahr in America

Zwahr is the 92358th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwahr surname appeared 199 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 Zwahr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwahr 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 Zwahr

Zwahr is a surname with origins in Germany. Historical records suggest that it originates from the Middle Ages, specifically in the regions of Saxony and Bavaria, which were part of the Holy Roman Empire during that period. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word “zwâr,” meaning “grave” or “serious,” possibly referring to the demeanor of the first bearers of the surname or a professional characteristic associated with their trade.

The earliest documented instances of the surname Zwahr can be traced back to the 14th century in church and civil records of the Saxony region. A particular mention of a Johann Zwahr appears in a 1377 manuscript detailing land holdings and transactions in the town of Leipzig. Another historical reference can be found in tax records from the year 1423, where a Heinrich Zwahr is listed as a property owner in what is now modern-day Dresden.

During the 16th century, with the advent of more comprehensive record-keeping, the surname Zwahr appeared more frequently. Notable bearers of the name include Martin Zwahr, born in 1562 in Dresden, who became a prominent merchant dealing in textiles. He is mentioned in various trade documents and merchant guild records up until his death in 1621. Another significant individual was Anna Zwahr, an educated woman born in 1585 who contributed to early educational reforms in Saxony through her work in local schools until her death in 1649.

By the 17th century, the Zwahr surname had spread to nearby areas, including Bohemia and parts of present-day Poland. Records from 1655 indicate the presence of a Georg Zwahr in Prague, who was involved in the burgeoning field of printing and bookbinding. His contributions to the local intellectual scene included the production of several notable works of the time.

In the 18th century, Ludwig Zwahr, born in 1710 in Leipzig, gained prominence as an architect. His designs and constructions added to the architectural heritage of Saxony. He is particularly remembered for his work on several churches and public buildings, including the library in Leipzig, where his design was praised for its innovative style until his death in 1784.

Another noteworthy Zwahr was Friedrich Zwahr, born in 1803 in the town of Zittau. He became an influential figure in the field of botany and is credited with several discoveries of plant species in the Erzgebirge Mountains. His research and documentation significantly contributed to the German botanical literature until his passing in 1865.

The surname Zwahr, although not exceedingly common, represents a lineage with varied contributions across multiple fields such as commerce, education, printing, architecture, and botany, primarily centered in the German-speaking regions of Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwahr

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

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

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

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