2000
#140,756
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zwerin
A Germanized Yiddish surname derived from the name of the Polish city of Żwiryn.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Zwerin. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zwerin 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Zwerin in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zwerin, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.1%) and Black (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zwerin
The surname Zwerin has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in the regions that comprise modern-day Poland and parts of Germany. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, likely around the 13th or 14th century. Zwerin is believed to be derived from the city of Schwerin, a name which itself came from the Slavic word Zverin, roughly meaning "animal" or "beast." This indicates a possible connection to wildlife or a landscape abundant with fauna.
In historical records, the name Zwerin appears with various spellings. One of the earliest references can be found in documents from the 14th century, where it was spelled as "Zwerin" or "Swerin." These spellings suggest a linguistic evolution influenced by both Slavic and Germanic languages. The Domesday Book, an extensive survey from 1086, does not contain this surname, indicating its emergence in a different part of Europe.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zwerin occurs in a Jewish community registry from the 18th century. David Zwerin, born in 1720 and died in 1785, was a notable rabbi in what is now Poland. His gravestone inscriptions confirm the surname's usage and its linkage to religious and communal leadership.
Another significant person with this surname is Moshe Zwerin, a prominent scholar from the 19th century. Born in 1825 and passing away in 1893, Moshe was known for his contribution to Jewish education and scriptural studies in Eastern Europe. His writings often referred to his surname, further solidifying its presence in academic circles.
In the early 20th century, the surname Zwerin gained attention in the field of medicine. Dr. Samuel Zwerin, born in 1880, became a well-known physician in Germany before emigrating to the United States in the 1920s. His medical research and publications brought the surname into the scientific community, where it remains recognized.
Another notable individual is Efraim Zwerin, a political activist born in 1901 and active during the interwar period. Efraim was involved in various socialist movements across Europe, and his activities are documented in several historical accounts of political upheaval during that era.
Lastly, Leonard Zwerin, born in 1913, became an influential figure in American arts. His work as an art critic and gallery owner in New York City brought the surname into the realm of contemporary arts. Leonard passed away in 1997, leaving behind a legacy of critical essays and contributions to art exhibitions.
The surname Zwerin, therefore, carries a rich history rooted in Eastern European culture, with significant contributions to religion, education, medicine, political activism, and the arts.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zwerin
Among Census respondents with the surname Zwerin, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.1%) and Black (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Zwerin 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 Zwerin surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5% · 108
- Two or more races5.1% · 6
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zwerin
Zwerin 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
#132,206
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 128
+19 bearers (+17.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 8,550 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-10 bearers (-7.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,305 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #140,756 | 109 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #132,206 | 128 | 0.04 | +19 bearers (+17.4%) | Up 8,550 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-7.8%) | Down 11,305 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 Zwerin 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 | #132,206 | #143,511 | -8.6% |
| Count | 128 | 118 | -7.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zwerin bearers went from 128 to 118 (-7.8% change). The surname moved down 11,305 positions in the national ranking, going from #132,206 to #143,511.
FAQ
Zwerin surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zwerin?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Zwerin. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Zwerin?
Zwerin ranks #143,511 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 118 people with the surname Zwerin. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), 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 Zwerin.
Has Zwerin become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zwerin went from 128 recorded bearers to 118. That is a decrease of 10 (-7.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #132,206 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Zwerin?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zwerin, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.1%) and Black (1.7%). 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 Zwerin in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.5% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zwerin appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.5%), Two or More Races (5.1%), Black (1.7%). 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 Zwerin (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 Zwerin mean?
A Germanized Yiddish surname derived from the name of the Polish city of Żwiryn. 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 Zwerin (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 Zwerin?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the last name Zwerin at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.