Zeigler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Zeigler family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Zeigler is an occupational hereditary surname, a type of surname that was taken from a word describing or common to the profession of the original bearer. It is a name for a brick maker. The name Zeigler is derived from the German word "ziegelbrenner," which means "brick maker." Although this name is quite common in Germany, it is most frequently found in the south and south-west of Germany, which are regions that were occupied by the Romans and had a strong house building industry.

Early Origins of the Zeigler family

The surname Zeigler was first found in Bavaria, where they were established in the Middle Ages. They became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in the Bavarian cities of Noerdlingen, Nuremburg, and Munich, elevating their social status by their great contributions to society. Chronicles first mention Ulreich der Zigler of the city Eger on the border between Bohemia and Bavaria around the year 1340.

Early History of the Zeigler family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Zeigler research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1843 is included under the topic Early Zeigler History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Zeigler Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Zeigler include Ziegler, Zieglauer, Zigler, Zeigler and many more.

Early Notables of the Zeigler family

Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Zeigler Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Zeigler Ranking

In the United States, the name Zeigler is the 2,260^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1

Zeigler migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Zeigler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Geoe Zeigler, aged 19, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 2
Conrad Zeigler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
Frantz Zeigler, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
Peter Zeigler, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 2
Jerick Zeigler, aged 24, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Zeigler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Fried Zeigler, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 2
Joh A Zeigler, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1807 2
Michael Zeigler, who arrived in Maryland in 1821 2
Adam Zeigler, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1853 2
John Zeigler, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Zeigler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Zeigler Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jacob Zeigler, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Contemporary Notables of the name Zeigler (post 1700) +

Dominique Zeigler (b. 1984), American football wide receiver
Cyd Zeigler Jr. (b. 1973), American commentator and author in the field of sexuality and sports
Curtis Dustin Zeigler (b. 1973), former American football offensive lineman
Ernie Zeigler (b. 1966), American college basketball coach
Jim Zeigler, American elder care attorney, author, and seminar leader in Alabama
Heidi Zeigler (b. 1979), former child actress from the United States
Larry Zeigler (b. 1933), birth name of Larry King, American Emmy Award, Peabody Award winning television and radio host
John Arnold Zeigler, American politician, Representative from Michigan 5th District, 1928 3
Jim Zeigler, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alabama, 2004 3
G. W. Zeigler, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1856 3
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html