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

Zwieg, 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 Zwieg surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwieg in America

Zwieg is the 54055th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwieg surname appeared 382 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 Zwieg.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwieg 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 Zwieg

The surname Zwieg is believed to have its origins in Germany. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, though specific records from that era are sparse. The name is primarily associated with regions in central and eastern Germany, where it may have originated from a topographical or occupational term. It is derived from the Middle High German word "zwiegel," meaning "twig" or "branch." This suggests a connection to a person who lived near or worked with wood, or possibly even a nickname for someone slender like a twig.

Zwieg could also be connected to agricultural practices, where families who pruned or harvested woodlands might have adopted the surname. Surnames based on natural features or occupations were quite common in medieval Europe, helping communities identify individuals through their trades or surroundings.

The earliest references to the surname Zwieg in historical records appear in the late 14th century. A notable mention can be found in the city archives of Leipzig around 1385, where a merchant named Johann Zwieg is listed as a prominent trader in timber and other forest products. This early appearance supports the theory of an occupational origin for the surname.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the name Zwieg can be traced through various church and municipal records across Saxony and Thuringia. One notable individual was Lucas Zwieg (1468-1543), a minor noble who owned several parcels of land around the town of Weimar. His lineage continued to influence local politics and commerce in the region for several generations.

In the early 17th century, Hans Zwieg (1592-1658) is recorded as a significant artisan in the town of Erfurt, known for his craftsmanship in furniture making. This adds another layer to the occupational background of the surname, indicating it was borne by skilled tradespeople and not just those involved in rudimentary wood harvesting.

The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) scattered many German families, leading to records of the Zwieg name appearing in other parts of Europe. One such family relocated to the Netherlands, where Pieter Zwieg (1625-1703) became a well-known baker in Amsterdam. While his profession differed from the wood-related origins of the name, the surname carried its historical baggage into the urban centers of the Low Countries.

In addition to these historical figures, Frederick Zwieg (1781-1846) was a noted academic in Berlin, contributing significantly to the study of botany. His works on plant taxonomy remained a valuable resource for future scholars, underscoring the diverse contributions of individuals with this surname beyond their medieval occupational roots.

These historical references collectively illustrate the evolution and spread of the surname Zwieg over several centuries. From its likely beginnings as a descriptor for wood-related occupations or locations, it emerged as a surname carried by individuals who made their mark in various fields across Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwieg

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

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

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

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