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

Zwier, 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 Zwier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwier in America

Zwier is the 93921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwier surname appeared 195 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 Zwier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwier 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 Zwier

The surname Zwier originates from the Low Countries region, particularly the Netherlands and Flanders. The name first appeared during the late medieval period, around the 14th to 15th centuries. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word "swieren," which means to move in a lively or agile manner, suggesting that the original bearers of the name might have been agile or energetic individuals.

The name Zwier appeared in various early records and manuscripts. One of the earliest references is found in a 15th-century Dutch tax register, where a Johan Zwier is mentioned as a landowner in the province of Utrecht. This suggests that the name had established some level of prominence and geographical specificity by that time.

Historians have noted the appearance of Zwier in other old records. For example, a 16th-century Flemish merchant named Pieter Zwier is documented in the annals of the Hanseatic League, indicating active engagement in trade and commerce within Northern Europe. Such records highlight the name's association with various professional spheres, beyond merely geographical roots.

A notable individual bearing the surname Zwier is Willem Zwier, a 17th-century painter from the city of Haarlem. His works, though few, are recognized for their intricate detail and form part of a collection in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Willem's lifetime spanned from 1622 to 1688, and his contributions to Dutch art are remembered for their classical influences and delicate brushwork.

Another significant figure is Gerhard Zwier, who lived during the late 18th century. Gerhard was a noted botanist and scholar from the University of Leiden, born in 1745 and passing in 1802. His research contributed extensively to the study of European flora, and his name is attached to several botanical papers and plant specimens.

In the 19th century, Dirk Zwier, born in 1813 and died in 1887, was a well-known figure in Dutch law and politics. Serving as a judge and later as a member of the Dutch parliament, Dirk's influence extended to the legal reforms of his time, advocating for modernization and judicial transparency.

Johannes Zwier, a 20th-century author and historian, is yet another prominent personage with this surname. Born in 1901 and living until 1975, Johannes wrote extensively about Dutch history and culture. His works are still referenced in academic circles for their depth and insight into the social dynamics of the Netherlands.

The surname Zwier, through its historical journey, depicts a vivid tapestry of individuals who contributed to various facets of society, from the arts and sciences to commerce and law. Each figure exemplifies the dynamic heritage and multifaceted legacy associated with this enduring surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwier

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!