Explore the Family Name Ziegler
The meaning of Ziegler
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a tiler, from an agent derivative of Middle High German ziegel ‘roof tile’ (Old High German ziagal, from Latin tegula), German Ziegel. In the Middle Ages the term came to denote bricks as well as tiles, and so the name Ziegler may have also denoted a brickmaker or bricklayer (compare 2 below). This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Denmark, Poland, Czechia, and Hungary. Compare Zeagler, Zeigler, and Zigler. 2. In some cases also a Germanized form of Slovenian Cigler or of its variant Ciglar ‘brickmaker’, cognates of 1 above. History: The surname Ziegler was probably first brought to North America in the early 18th century by Michael Ziegler from Germany, who settled in what is now Montgomery County, PA. The town of Zieglerville, PA, is named after him. Michael Ziegler was Lutheran, but converted to the Mennonite faith. Today the name Ziegler is also found among the Brethrens.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Ziegler in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Ziegler has seen subtle fluctuations over the years. In 2000, the surname ranked 1289 in popularity with a count of 25,138 individuals bearing it. By 2010, it had dropped slightly to a rank of 1400, with an increase in the individual count to 25,351. This constitutes a minimal decrease of 8.61% in ranking but a marginal increase of 0.85% in its count. The proportion per 100k people also saw a slight decline from 9.32 in 2000 to 8.59 in 2010, marking a decrease of 7.83%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,289 | #1,400 | -8.61% |
| Count | 25,138 | 25,351 | 0.85% |
| Proportion per 100k | 9.32 | 8.59 | -7.83% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Ziegler
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Ziegler has also shown some changes according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority of bearers identified as white in both 2000 and 2010 (93.96% and 92.36% respectively), there was a small decrease of 1.70% over this period. The Hispanic population with this surname showed the most notable growth, increasing by 68.66% from 1.34% to 2.26%. Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native identities also increased by 31.48% and 31.58% respectively. However, the proportion identifying as black or belonging to two or more races saw minor changes, with a marginal decrease of 1.07% in the former and a rise of 43.30% in the latter.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.96% | 92.36% | -1.7% |
| Black | 2.81% | 2.78% | -1.07% |
| Hispanic | 1.34% | 2.26% | 68.66% |
| Two or More Races | 0.97% | 1.39% | 43.3% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.54% | 0.71% | 31.48% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.38% | 0.5% | 31.58% |
Ziegler ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Ziegler is French & German, which comprises 40.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (33.2%) and Eastern European (6.3%). Additional ancestries include Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Scandinavian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 40.1% |
| British & Irish | 33.2% |
| Eastern European | 6.3% |
| Other | 20.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Ziegler
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Ziegler have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 71.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 71.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 71.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 71.50% |
What Ziegler haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Ziegler is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z8 and R-M405, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Engel, Schmidt, Weber, Haas, Wagner, Mueller, Hoffman, Schneider, Becker, Meyer.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Ziegler surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Ziegler have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Ziegler" Surname 42.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Ziegler" Surname 25.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Ziegler" Surname 22.1%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Ziegler" Surname 18.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Ziegler?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Ziegler are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition