Zwisler last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zwisler

A German surname potentially derived from zwistler, meaning "quarrelsome person".

Zwisler, 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 Zwisler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zwisler in America

Zwisler is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zwisler surname appeared 161 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 Zwisler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zwisler 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 109758 111119 -1.23%
Count 161 147 9.09%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.05 0.00%

The history of the last name Zwisler

The surname Zwisler is likely of German origin, specifically from the region of Switzerland, Bavaria, or adjoining areas that were part of the Holy Roman Empire during the late Middle Ages. The surname is believed to have originated in the areas surrounding the Swiss Alps or southern Germany where German dialects were prevalent. It is derived from the older German word "Zwisl" or "Zwis," which is an archaic term for the fork or split of a river or road, indicating someone who lived near such geographical features.

The name Zwisler first appeared in historical records in the late 14th century. One of the earliest mentions is found in a 1395 tax record in the canton of Zurich, which lists a "Hans Zwisler," a local landowner and farmer. This suggests that the name was established in the region and associated with landholding status or geographic landmarks. The use of such surnames became more formalized in this period.

By the 16th century, the Zwisler surname appeared in church and civil registries, particularly in Switzerland and southern Germany. A notable historical reference includes Johann Zwisler, born in 1542 in Zurich, who was recorded in the town's baptismal records. He later became known for his involvement in local community affairs and is mentioned in several town council minutes from the 1570s.

In Austria, another recorded instance is Peter Zwisler, born in 1610, who appears in records related to the Thirty Years' War. Documents reveal that Peter served as a captain in the Austrian defense forces, contributing to the local military efforts during this tumultuous period.

The surname appears in various forms over the centuries, including Zwiseler and Zwissler. In the mid-18th century, Margaretha Zwisler, born in 1742 in the Tyrol region, is noted for her prolific family and contributions to local agricultural developments. Her lineage can be traced through parish registers which detail the births, marriages, and deaths of her extensive family.

Another prominent figure includes Ludwig Zwisler, born in 1798 in Munich. Ludwig was a well-regarded craftsman who gained local fame for his skill in woodworking. Records from the period document his contribution to several notable buildings and his involvement in the guild system.

Throughout the 19th century, the Zwisler name continued to appear in various records across central Europe. Heinrich Zwisler, born in 1823 in Zurich, was a notable academic and historian, whose works remain a reference for the local history of Zurich. He is remembered for his detailed chronicles of the region and contributions to historical societies.

The surname Zwisler offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical fabric of central Europe, with its roots stretching back to medieval times. Its evolution mirrors the geographic and social changes of the regions it is associated with, encapsulating the journeys and stories of the individuals who bore the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zwisler

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

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 Zwisler was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 97.52% 157
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Zwisler has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 97.52% 96.60% 0.95%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zwisler last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 7, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zwisler-surname-popularity/.

"Zwisler last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zwisler-surname-popularity/. Accessed 7 July, 2025

Zwisler last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zwisler-surname-popularity/.

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