2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zwirner
German surname meaning a wool-carder or wool-comber.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 122 Americans carry the last name Zwirner. That puts it at #152,339 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,809,462 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zwirner surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
122
1 in 2,809,462
Census rank
#152,339
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
106
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 106 bearers of the surname Zwirner in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152339th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zwirner, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zwirner
The surname Zwirner originates from Germany and likely dates back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have roots in the Middle High German word "zwirn," which means "twine" or "thread." This suggests that the name may have originally been occupational, referring to someone who worked with thread or was engaged in weaving or sewing.
The name Zwirner appears in various historical records in Central Europe, particularly in regions that are now part of modern-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. One of the earliest documented uses of the surname dates back to 13th-century manuscripts, where it was often found in regions populated by artisans and tradespeople.
A notable historical figure with the surname Zwirner is Ernst Friedrich Zwirner, born in 1802 and died in 1861. He was a renowned German architect best known for his work on the Cologne Cathedral, one of the most important Gothic structures in Europe. His contributions significantly impacted the field of architecture during his lifetime.
Another significant individual bearing the name was Johann Zwirner, a 15th-century silversmith from Nuremberg. Known for his intricate craftsmanship, Johann's works were highly sought after by European nobility, and some of his pieces are preserved in museums today, showcasing the artistry associated with the Zwirner name.
The surname also appears in the records of Hans Zwirner, a Swiss clockmaker from the 17th century. His clocks were known for their precision and durability, and they were highly valued among wealthy merchants and nobility across Europe. Hans Zwirner's legacy continues to be admired by horologists and collectors of antique clocks.
In the 18th century, the name Zwirner became associated with artistic pursuits, exemplified by Clara Zwirner, born in 1751, who was a celebrated German painter known for her detailed portrait work. Clara’s paintings are displayed in several galleries across Europe, reflecting the cultural impact of individuals with this surname.
Friedrich Zwirner, born in 1857, was another esteemed member of the Zwirner lineage. He made his mark as a composer and musician in Austria, contributing to the rich musical heritage of the region. His compositions were celebrated for their emotional depth and complexity, helping to enrich the symphonic traditions of his time.
The surname Zwirner has thus been carried by individuals who contributed significantly to various fields such as architecture, silversmithing, clockmaking, painting, and music. The historical records and contributions of these individuals provide a rich tapestry that highlights the distinguished heritage of the Zwirner name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zwirner
Among Census respondents with the surname Zwirner, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zwirner bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zwirner surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5% · 98
- Two or more races2.8% · 3
- Black or African American1.9% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zwirner
Zwirner appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+6 bearers (+5.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,375 places
2020
#152,339
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-15 bearers (-12.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 14,035 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.2%) | Down 3,375 places |
| 2020 | #152,339 | 106 | 0.04 | -15 bearers (-12.4%) | Down 14,035 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zwirner surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #152,339 | -10.1% |
| Count | 121 | 106 | -12.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -11.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zwirner bearers went from 121 to 106 (-12.4% change). The surname moved down 14,035 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #152,339.
FAQ
Zwirner surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zwirner?
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the surname Zwirner. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,809,462 residents.
How common is Zwirner?
Zwirner ranks #152,339 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 106 people with the surname Zwirner. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (122), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zwirner.
Has Zwirner become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zwirner went from 121 recorded bearers to 106. That is a decrease of 15 (-12.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #138,304 to #152,339.
What does the Census say about the background of Zwirner?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zwirner, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Black (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zwirner in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.5% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zwirner appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.5%), Two or More Races (2.8%), Black (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zwirner (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zwirner mean?
German surname meaning a wool-carder or wool-comber. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zwirner (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zwirner?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people are called Zwirner at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.