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

Zwiers, 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 Zwiers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwiers in America

Zwiers is the 55962nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwiers surname appeared 366 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 Zwiers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwiers 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 Zwiers

The surname Zwiers is of Dutch origin, emerging predominantly in the Netherlands during the early modern period. The name is most commonly associated with the provinces of Friesland and Groningen, areas known for their distinctive linguistic and cultural heritage within the broader Dutch context. The surname is believed to derive from the Dutch given name Swier, an old Frisian name that evolved over centuries. The suffix -s signifies "son of," making Zwiers essentially mean "son of Swier."

Historical references to the surname Zwiers are found in regional records dating back to the 17th century. Church records from Friesland and Groningen often list individuals bearing the name, indicating that it had solidified into hereditary use by this period. One of the earliest documented references can be traced to a 1653 birth record in the small village of Appingedam in Groningen, where a Jan Zwiers is noted.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Zwiers have made notable contributions in various fields. One such person is Pieter Zwiers, born in 1704 and a prominent farmer in Friesland who documented agricultural practices of the time. Another historical figure is Willem Zwiers, a shipbuilder born in 1759 in the maritime town of Harlingen, who played a crucial role in the development of Dutch naval architecture during the late 18th century.

Johannes Zwiers, a theologian born in 1822, became influential in the Netherlands' Protestant Reformation during the mid-19th century. His published works contributed to theological debates and are still referenced in religious studies today. Another noteworthy individual is Hendrik Zwiers, born in 1884, an artist whose landscape paintings captured the pastoral beauty of the Dutch countryside and are exhibited in art museums across the Netherlands.

In more recent history, Anneke Zwiers, born 1942, emerged as a well-known sociologist whose research focused on the social dynamics of rural Dutch communities. Her work has been published extensively and informs contemporary sociological theories about community life and social change.

The surname Zwiers, while not one of the most common, carries a rich tapestry of history rooted in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen. From early agriculturalists to influential theologians and artists, those bearing the name have significantly impacted Dutch culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwiers

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

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

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

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