2000
#130,443
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zweben
A surname derived from the German word "schweben" meaning to hover or float.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 132 Americans carry the last name Zweben. That puts it at #145,757 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,596,624 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zweben surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
132
1 in 2,596,624
Census rank
#145,757
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
115
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 115 bearers of the surname Zweben in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145757th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zweben, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zweben
The surname Zweben is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period in central Europe. It is derived from the German word "zweibein," which translates to "two-legged." This term could have been used descriptively, perhaps referring to a person's gait or stance. The areas most commonly associated with the surname Zweben include regions in what is now modern-day Germany, specifically in the German-speaking areas of Central Europe.
The name Zweben first appears in historical manuscripts from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. One of the earliest references is found in a registry from the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe, portraying the spread and usage of the name amongst merchants and tradespeople. The term ‘zweibein’ slowly evolved into its current form through the centuries, with regional dialects and variations affecting its spelling and pronunciation.
Historical documents from the 15th century mention a Johannes Zweben, a notable merchant in the city of Lübeck, born around 1423 and recorded in trade documents that attest to his business dealings across the Baltic Sea. His presence signifies the prominence of the surname in commercial circles within the Hanseatic League, tying the name to mercantile success.
By the 16th century, records indicate a shift in the usage of the name from primarily mercantile to more diverse professions. A 1567 parish register from the town of Augsburg lists a Michael Zweben, a craftsperson known for his contributions to local architecture. His work on several municipal buildings attests to the family's integration into the fabric of local industry and community.
In 1618, during the early years of the Thirty Years' War, a military record from the Duchy of Württemberg mentions a Captain Heinrich Zweben, born in 1591, who served with distinction in the regional defense efforts. The mention of Heinrich Zweben reflects the name's association with military service during one of Europe’s most turbulent periods.
The 18th century brings forth another notable figure, Anna Magdalena Zweben, born in 1712, who was a prominent figure in the community of Leipzig. Her contributions to local charitable efforts and her work within the religious community are documented in several church records from the 1770s, reflecting the surname's ties to philanthropy and social service.
Finally, in the 19th century, Johann Friedrich Zweben, born in 1827, became widely known within academic circles in Heidelberg, where he served as a professor of philosophy until his death in 1891. His scholarly work, particularly in ethics and metaphysics, highlighted the intellectual contributions of individuals bearing this surname.
Through these various historical touchpoints, the surname Zweben demonstrates a rich and diverse legacy, spanning commerce, craftsmanship, military service, charitable work, and academia. The evolution of the name over centuries paints a picture of adaptation and integration within different facets of society, reflecting broader historical trends and regional developments.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zweben
Among Census respondents with the surname Zweben, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zweben bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zweben surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.9% · 108
- Hispanic or Latino5.2% · 6
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zweben
Zweben appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#124,548
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 138
+18 bearers (+15.0%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 5,895 places
2020
#145,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
-23 bearers (-16.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 21,209 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #130,443 | 120 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #124,548 | 138 | 0.05 | +18 bearers (+15.0%) | Up 5,895 places |
| 2020 | #145,757 | 115 | 0.04 | -23 bearers (-16.7%) | Down 21,209 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zweben surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #124,548 | #145,757 | -17.0% |
| Count | 138 | 115 | -16.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.04 | -23.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zweben bearers went from 138 to 115 (-16.7% change). The surname moved down 21,209 positions in the national ranking, going from #124,548 to #145,757.
FAQ
Zweben surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zweben?
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the surname Zweben. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,596,624 residents.
How common is Zweben?
Zweben ranks #145,757 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 115 people with the surname Zweben. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (132), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zweben.
Has Zweben become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zweben went from 138 recorded bearers to 115. That is a decrease of 23 (-16.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #124,548 to #145,757.
What does the Census say about the background of Zweben?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zweben, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zweben in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.9% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zweben appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.9%), Hispanic (5.2%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zweben (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zweben mean?
A surname derived from the German word "schweben" meaning to hover or float. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zweben (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Zweben?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the surname Zweben at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.