Surname Zirner - Meaning and Origin
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Zirner: What does the surname Zirner mean?
The last name Zirner is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word “zirner” which meant “cooper” or a maker and seller of barrels and other wooden containers. This was an important occupation in the Middle Ages as it helped to keep grain and other foodstuffs and beer safe.
The name Zirner is likely to have originally been used by family of coopers, barrel-makers, and woodworkers who lived in Bavaria and other parts of Germany. It is related to the surname Zimmerman, which is derived from the same Middle High German term, and meant “carpenter”.
The Zirner last name has spread around the world since the days of the Middle Ages. It is most common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. There are also Zirners living in other countries where German immigrants have settled.
The name Zirner might be an occupational name, but it has not always been associated solely with carpentry and barrel-making. It has been carried forward by great-grandchildren of those who originally adopted it, and those who may have completely unrelated to its original meaning. For example, artists and actors have carried the name, such as Mathias Zirner, a German actor working in the theater and on television.
Order DNA origin analysisZirner: Where does the name Zirner come from?
The surname Zirner is a common German name, with records of its use throughout Europe back as far as the 16th century. Today, the name is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. There are also records of Zirner families in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere, likely due to emigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In Germany, records show that more than 2,000 people with the surname Zirner currently live in Bavaria. Other concentrations of the name are found in the former West German states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia. A particularly large number of Zirners can be found in the town of Bludenz, in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg.
In the United States, the largest concentration of people with the last name Zirner is in California. Other states that have significant populations of Zirners include Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin. Canadian records indicate that the most Zirners live in the province of Alberta.
The surname may have developed from the Germanic personal name Tsirinc, which morphed into Zirner over time. The name is associated with the German word for cirrus clouds, “Zirren.” Whether the name is related to these clouds or to the personal name is unknown.
Variations of the surname Zirner
The surname Zirner has many variants, spellings, and surnames that derive from the same origin. The most common variants and spellings are Zirn, Zirner, Zierner, Zierne, Ziern, Zihrn, Zihrnhofer, and Ziarn. It is also referred to as Zerner, Ciarn, Cyrner, Seirn, Ziern, Zern, and Zurner.
The surname Zirner originated in Austria and Germany, commonly among the German-speaking Jewish communities of Central Europe. It is a diminutive form of the name Zwanziger, a term used to denote a person from the region of Swabia in southern Germany. It is derived from the old German word “Zwanzig” which literally means ‘twenty’, and was initially used as a form of identification for a man who held the right to collect tithes from twenty villages. The surname expanded after many of these Swabian families migrated to the German province of Bohemia, now known as the Czech Republic, in the 16th century.
Over time, the name spread across Europe and beyond to the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America. In some cases, the name has been changed as immigrants settled in a new country and as a result of phonetic changes made to suit the different languages in their new home.
Famous people with the name Zirner
- Ulrich Tukur: German actor, composer, and singer; star of movies like The Truce and Dinner for One
- Jana Zirner: German television actor who has appeared in TV movies like Taunuskrimi and Tatort
- Hannes Zirner: Austrian actor who appeared in films such as Aimee & Jaguar and The Lives of Others
- Erna Zirner: German operatic soprano who performed in works such as Beethoven’s Fidelio
- Douadi Zirner: Tunisian writer and artist, who is known for his poetry collections and drawings
- Martin Zirner: Austrian-German television actor, most noted for his performance in Der Schuh des Manitu
- Patrick Zirner: Austrian actor who starred in movies like Revanche and Richard the Stork
- Bert Zirner: Austrian actor, who has been in various television shows like SOKO and Tatort
- Sonja Zirner: German actress who has appeared in films like Lola and The Miracle of Bern
- Birgit Zirner: Austrian actress, best known for roles such as Deutschland 83 and The Pope of Utopia