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

Zwirn, 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 Zwirn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwirn in America

Zwirn is the 66553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwirn surname appeared 297 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 Zwirn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwirn 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 Zwirn

The surname Zwirn traces its origins to the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, particularly in what is now Germany and Austria. The surname is derived from the Middle High German word "zwirn," which translates to "twist" or "twine," referring to twisted threads or yarn. This connection to thread or yarn suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a weaver or was involved in the textile industry.

The earliest documentation of the surname Zwirn appears in medieval German records. One of the first recorded instances is found in a 14th-century tax register in the city of Nuremberg, where a textile merchant by the name of Heinrich Zwirn is listed. Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname appears sporadically in various trade and guild records, particularly in regions known for their vibrant textile production, including Swabia and Franconia.

Another historical reference can be found in the archives of Augsburg, another city famous for its textile commerce during the Renaissance period. Records show a Johannes Zwirn, born around 1480 and active as a wool trader, who held significant roles in the local guild, thereby contributing to the city's economic life until his death in 1540.

As the name spread, alternative spellings emerged in different regions due to dialectal differences and variations in record-keeping. In some instances, the name appeared as Zwern or Zwernn, particularly in rural areas where literacy rates were lower, and phonetic spellings were common.

In literature, a notable mention is found in a 17th-century folk tale from Bavaria, which features a tailor named Hans Zwirn. While fictional, this story reflects the surname's association with the textile trade and its prevalence in local culture.

Moving into the 18th and 19th centuries, one finds Jacob Zwirn, an Austrian-born inventor born in 1765 who developed several innovations in loom technology, passing away in 1823. His contributions were significant enough to be recognized in patents and industrial records of the Austrian Empire, further solidifying the association of the Zwirn name with the textile industry.

The emigration wave to America in the late 19th century saw bearers of the Zwirn surname settling primarily in regions with established German communities, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. One prominent figure from this period is Karl Zwirn, born in 1834, who became a noted community leader and businessman in Milwaukee, contributing to the city's economic development until his death in 1902.

Through centuries of European history, the surname Zwirn has maintained a consistent connection to the textile industry, with its bearers contributing to both local economies and cultural narratives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwirn

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

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

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

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