Show ContentsZiegler History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the Ziegler family is in the German state of Bavaria. The name Ziegler 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 Ziegler 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 Ziegler family

The surname Ziegler 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 Ziegler family

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

Ziegler Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Ziegler include Ziegler, Zieglauer, Zigler, Zeigler and many more.

Early Notables of the Ziegler family

Prominent among members of the name Ziegler in this period include

  • members of the Ziegler zu Meisenhausen und Rosenburg branch who brought great honor to the family when they were awarded the title of Baron for their outstanding accomplishments in 1843

Ziegler Ranking

In the United States, the name Ziegler is the 1,559th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Ziegler is ranked the 1,929th most popular surname with an estimated 3,212 people with that name. 2


United States Ziegler migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Zieglers to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Ziegler Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Hans Georg Ziegler, who landed in America in 1622 3
Ziegler Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John George Ziegler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 3
  • Philipp Georg Ziegler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 3
  • Leonhard Ziegler, aged 21, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
  • Joh Leonhart Ziegler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
  • Han Wilhelm Ziegler, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ziegler Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mich Ziegler, who landed in America in 1807 3
  • Michael Ziegler, who arrived in America in 1819 3
  • Philip Ziegler, who landed in Cincinnati, Oh in 1832 3
  • Phillip Ziegler, who landed in Ohio in 1833 3
  • George Ziegler, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1835 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Ziegler migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ziegler Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Andreas Ziegler, who settled in Canada in 1783 with the United Empire Loyalists
Ziegler Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Andreas Ziegler, aged 8, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Anna Ziegler, aged 11, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Felix Ziegler, aged 4, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Magdalena Ziegler, aged 50, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902
  • Margaretha Ziegler, aged 21, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1902

Contemporary Notables of the name Ziegler (post 1700) +

  • Henri Ziegler (1906-1998), French engineer and pilot who directed the French contribution to the Concorde project, founder of Airbus and its first president
  • John Augustus Ziegler Jr. (1934-2018), American lawyer and ice hockey executive, fourth president of the National Hockey League
  • Ronald Ziegler (b. 1939), American Press Secretary to President Nixon (1969-1974)
  • John Ziegler (b. 1967), American radio talk show host, Los Angeles
  • Larry Ziegler (b. 1939), American professional golfer
  • Edward Ziegler (1870-1947), American music critic and opera manager
  • Karl Waldemar Ziegler (1898-1973), German chemist who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1963
  • Philip Sandeman Ziegler CVO FRSL (1929-2023), British biographer and historian
  • Bernard Ziegler (1933-2021), French pilot and engineer, who served in Airbus as senior vice president for engineering, son of Airbus founder Henri Ziegler
  • Brigadier William Smith Ziegler (1911-1999), Canadian Regional Administration Officer, Land in Niedersachsen, Allied Control Commission for Germany 4
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Miss. Cathleen M Ziegler (1964-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Novi, Michigan, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 5
Bismarck
  • Heinz Ziegler (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
Hindenburg LZ-129
  • Captain Walter Ziegler (1908-1937), German Watch Officer from Hamburg, Germany, who worked on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and survived the Airship Fire 7


Suggested Readings for the name Ziegler +

  • Roots and Branches of a Ziegler Family Tree, 1767-1980, Georg Michael Ziegler by Alta Buckingham Drasser.
  • The Ziegler Family and Related Families in Pennsylvania by Gertrude Mohlin Ziegler.
  • Genealogical Chronology of John Peter Snyder, 1729-1807 and His Wife Mary Catherine Elizabeth (Stenz) Snyder, 1739-1782 and Their Descendants by Howard W. Stentz.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. 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)
  4. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 3) William Ziegler. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Ziegler/William_Smith/Canada.html
  5. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  6. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
  7. Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/


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