Zwiefelhofer last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zwiefelhofer

German occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of twills or rough fabrics.

Zwiefelhofer, 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 Zwiefelhofer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwiefelhofer in America

Zwiefelhofer is the 47107th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwiefelhofer surname appeared 451 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 Zwiefelhofer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwiefelhofer 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 47107 48380 -2.67%
Count 451 410 9.52%
Proportion per 100k 0.15 0.15 0.00%

The history of the last name Zwiefelhofer

The surname Zwiefelhofer originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically Southern Germany and Switzerland, during the medieval period. The name is derived from two archaic German words: "Zwiefel," meaning "doubt" or "uncertainty," and "Hof," meaning "farm" or "courtyard." When combined, the meaning of the surname may refer to an uncertain or doubtful farmstead, possibly indicating a location that was precarious or challenging to cultivate.

Historical references to the name Zwiefelhofer are scarce, but it is likely to have appeared in regional records and tax documents. The earliest known instances of this surname date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, as communities became more structured and last names were needed for administrative purposes. Old spellings of the name have included Zwiffelhofer or Zwiuhoff, showcasing the fluidity of language and orthography during this time.

In 1473, a Hans Zwiefelhofer of Bavaria is recorded as a landowner in local archives. His presence in these records highlights early adoption of the surname in connection with land tenure and local administration. Another notable person bearing the surname is Ulrich Zwiefelhofer, born in 1532, who was a prominent figure in his village near the Black Forest and known for his skills in woodworking.

A more prominent use of the name can be traced to the 17th century with Jacob Zwiefelhofer, born in 1610 in Württemberg. Jacob was a well-documented figure in his region, recognized for his involvement in the early Protestant Reformation movements. His steadfast contributions to his community's spiritual life have been noted in church records of the time.

In the 18th century, one Johann Zwiefelhofer emerged as a significant individual. Born in 1695, he was a farmer and a local militia leader in southern parts of Germany. His involvement in local defense efforts during the War of the Austrian Succession between 1740 and 1748 earned him a place in local historical documents.

By the 19th century, the name Zwiefelhofer had started to appear in diverse records outside of Germany, influenced by the waves of migration. One notable individual is Maria Zwiefelhofer, who was born in 1815 and emigrated to the United States in the mid-1800s, settling in Wisconsin. Maria's descendants became well-integrated into the fabric of American society, continuing the legacy of the Zwiefelhofer surname.

In summary, the surname Zwiefelhofer has deep roots in German-speaking regions, with notable instances and variations in historical records. Its etymology reflects a connection to the land and a sense of resilience amidst uncertainty, with the name's bearers contributing to their communities through various historical periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwiefelhofer

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

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 Zwiefelhofer was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.78% 441
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Zwiefelhofer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 97.78% 96.34% 1.48%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 1.95% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zwiefelhofer last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zwiefelhofer-surname-popularity/.

"Zwiefelhofer last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zwiefelhofer-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Zwiefelhofer last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zwiefelhofer-surname-popularity/.

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