2000
#143,847
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ziering
A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Zieringen in Germany.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Ziering. That puts it at #157,234 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ziering 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.
Ziering appeared in the 2010 Census surname file but was not included in the published 2020 file. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames with at least 100 recorded bearers, so this usually means the name fell below that threshold.
Bearers in the US
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#157,234
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Ziering in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 157234th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziering, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ziering
The surname Ziering is believed to have origins in Germany. The earliest references to the name date back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 13th centuries. The name is thought to have been derived from the German word "zier," meaning "ornament" or "decoration," often suggesting a person of a notable or ornamental character. The suffix "ing" is common in Germanic languages and typically denotes association or belonging.
One of the oldest recorded instances of the surname Ziering can be found in records from the Rhineland region of Germany, an area known for its vibrant medieval communities and historical manuscripts. Early spellings of the name include variations such as Zieringer and Zieringh. A notable mention is Conrad Zieringer, whose name appeared in a charter from 1276, highlighting the early presence of the surname in Germanic regions.
In the 16th century, records from the town of Heidelberg mention a Heinrich Ziering, a merchant known for trading goods between various German principalities. The name also appears in ecclesiastical documents of the time, suggesting that members of the Ziering family were involved in religious and civic activities.
During the 17th century, the Thirty Years' War prompted a great deal of migration within and beyond German territories. Many families, including the Zierings, moved to neighboring countries to escape the turmoil. One such individual was Johann Ziering, born in 1615, who became a noted figure in the Hanseatic League. Johann's contributions to trade and commerce were documented in the city's records of Hamburg, where he settled and thrived.
By the 18th century, the Ziering name could be found in various parts of Europe. A prominent figure includes Friedrich Ziering, born in 1732, who made significant contributions to the field of alchemy and early chemistry. Friedrich's works were recognized in several scientific communities, and his manuscripts are still studied for their historical value.
In the 19th century, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the Ziering family continued to expand its influence. One notable individual is Anna Ziering, born in 1845, who became a well-known advocate for women's education in Prussia. Her efforts in founding educational institutions were pivotal during a time of significant social change, and her legacy continues to be remembered.
The surname Ziering, rich in history and noteworthy individuals, symbolizes a lineage of notable contributions to various fields and communities throughout history. The name's origins in medieval Germany and its subsequent spread across Europe reflect a tapestry of cultural and historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ziering
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziering, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Ziering bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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 Ziering surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.3%
- Unknown or suppressed4.9%
- Two or more races4.8%
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ziering
Ziering appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-3 bearers (-2.8%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 13,387 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #143,847 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -3 bearers (-2.8%) | Down 13,387 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
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ziering surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20002010
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #143,847 | #157,234 | -9.3% |
| Count | 106 | 103 | -2.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -25.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Ziering bearers went from 106 to 103 (-2.8% change). The surname moved down 13,387 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,847 to #157,234.
FAQ
Ziering surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ziering?
Name Census estimates that about 103 living Americans carry the surname Ziering. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,327,712 residents.
How common is Ziering?
Ziering ranks #157,234 in the 2010 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 2010 Census file counted 103 people with the surname Ziering. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (103), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Ziering.
Has Ziering become more or less common over time?
Between 2000 and 2010, the surname Ziering went from 106 recorded bearers to 103. That is a decrease of 3 (-2.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #143,847 to #157,234.
What does the Census say about the background of Ziering?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ziering, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%). These figures come from the 2010 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 Ziering in the 2010 Census, accounting for 90.3%.
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ziering appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2010 file are White (90.3%), Two or More Races (4.8%).
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Not necessarily. Ziering appears here with 2010 Census data, while the latest surname file loaded on Name Census is 2020. When a surname drops below the Census publication threshold, older rows can still be kept for historical reference even if the name no longer appears in the newest file.
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 Ziering mean?
A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Zieringen in Germany. 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 2010 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 Ziering (0.03 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 share the surname Ziering?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.