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

Zweig, 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 Zweig surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zweig in America

Zweig is the 22838th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zweig surname appeared 1,121 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 Zweig.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zweig 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 Zweig

The surname Zweig originates from German-speaking regions, specifically deriving from the German word "Zweig," which means "branch" or "twig." This etymology likely suggests that the name was either a topographic surname for someone who lived near or worked with branches or trees or a metonymic occupational name related to a person who crafted items from wood.

The surname Zweig has ancient roots in regions of central Europe, particularly in what is now Germany and Austria. Historical documents from these areas contain references to the name Zweig, though it appears in various spellings. The surname was first found in records from the late medieval period, around the 14th and 15th centuries, when surnames began to stabilize in usage.

One of the earliest historical references to the surname appears in records from the Holy Roman Empire. For example, in 1389, a historical manuscript from Bavaria mentions a man named Hans Zweig, indicating the name had already been established by the 14th century.

Stefan Zweig, an Austrian writer, journalist, and biographer, is one of the most renowned individuals bearing this surname. Born in 1881 and passing away in 1942, Stefan Zweig gained worldwide fame for his literary works and insightful biographies of historical figures such as Marie Antoinette and Erasmus of Rotterdam.

Another notable figure is Arnold Zweig, born in 1887 in Glogau, Germany (now Głogów, Poland), and passing away in 1968. Arnold Zweig was a writer and an outspoken critic of militarism, known particularly for his series of novels on World War I, including "The Case of Sergeant Grischa."

Hedwig Zweig, documented in a 1603 church registry in Vienna, Austria, serves as an example of the surname in historical ecclesiastical records. Her name in these records indicates that the Zweig family had roots in this region for several centuries.

In more recent history, Michael Zweig, an American economist born in 1942, has contributed significantly to labor economics and the study of working-class life in the United States. His academic contributions have added to the name's presence in scholarly fields.

Johann Zweig, noted in a 1782 Prussian tax record from Berlin, further showcases the surname's spread across German-speaking regions. His inclusion in these records points to the movement and establishment of the Zweig family through various political and social changes within European history.

The surname Zweig, with its rich and varied history, provides a fascinating insight into the cultural and occupational origins of those who carried it. From literature to academia and historical documentation, the surname has maintained a presence in various facets of society over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zweig

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

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

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

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