Show ContentsZerbe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the distinguished German surname Zerbe can be traced back to the region of Saxony. The name is derived from the place name "Zerben," a town near the city of Magdeburg, and would most likely have been initially borne by a resident of this area. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the Germanic "serbe," a term which refers to the Slav-speaking minority in Eastern Germany.

Early Origins of the Zerbe family

The surname Zerbe was first found in Zerben, where the name most likely originated. A surname deriving from a place of origin is often bestowed on someone who has moved from their native town; thus, it is probable that the initial bearer of the surname Zerbe was a native of Zerben who had taken up residence in another town.

Early History of the Zerbe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Zerbe research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Zerbe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Zerbe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Zerbe, Zerben, Serbe, Serben, Syrbe, Syrben and others.

Early Notables of the Zerbe family

Prominent bearers of the family name Zerbe at this time were

  • the Zerbe family of Hessen

Zerbe Ranking

In the United States, the name Zerbe is the 10,269th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Zerbe migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Zerbe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Martin Zerbe, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 2
  • Lorentz Zerbe, who settled in New York in 1710
  • Philipp Zerbe, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 2
  • Peter Zerbe, who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1728
Zerbe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Phil Zerbe, who landed in America in 1852 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Zerbe (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Farran Zerbe (1871-1949), American coin collector and dealer, president of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) in 1908 and 1909
  • Jerome Zerbe (1904-1988), American photographer, he was one of the originators of a genre of photography that is now common, celebrity paparazzi
  • Karl Zerbe (1903-1972), German-born American painter
  • William Chad Zerbe (b. 1972), American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants from 2000 to 2003
  • Anthony Jared Zerbe (b. 1936), American Emmy Award winning stage, film and television actor and director, best known for his role as Lieutenant K.C. Trench in the private detective series Harry O and his roles in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions
  • J. B. Zerbe, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1904 3
  • Harry Leland Zerbe (1922-1999), American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Indiana 9th District, 1964 3
  • Walter Zerbe (1906-1975), deputy manager of Bern College of Art
  • Carol Zerbe Hurford, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 4


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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