Ziegler

Etymology and History

Ziegler is a German occupational surname meaning “bricklayer” or “brickmaker,” derived from Middle High German ziegel (“brick, tile”), which itself comes from Latin tegula. This is the equivalent of the English surname Tyler, which likewise refers to someone who makes or lays tiles and bricks.

Notable Bearers

Category: Actors

• Daniela Ziegler – German actress (born 1948)
• Maddie Ziegler – American dancer and actress (born 2002) known from the reality show Dance Moms
• Mackenzie Ziegler – American dancer and actress (born 2004), sister of Maddie
• Matilda Ziegler – English actress known for roles in British television

Category: Artists

• Adolf Ziegler (1892–1959) – a German painter favored by Adolf Hitler
• Zio Ziegler – American visual and graphic artist (born 1988)

Category: Scientists

• Karl Ziegler (1898–1973) – German chemist and Nobel laureate

Category: Musicians and Writers

• Danya Ziegler – American music journalist and photographer

These represent just a small selection of the many notable Zieglers across fields. The surname is among the more common surnames in Europe and appears frequently among German emigrant populations worldwide.

Cultural Significance

In East Germany, the compound Ziegelbrenner was used as another occupational name for a brickmaker. The name Ziegler also occurs among European Jewry, adopted as an occupational surname by Ashkenazi Jews in German-speaking countries during the era of mandatory surnames (late 18th–19th centuries). The related term Ziegelbauer appears in Croatian (Ciglar) and similar forms across Central Europe. Variant spellings include Ziegler, Ziegeler, Sigler, and Ziegele.

• Meaning: Bricklayer, brickmaker
• Origin: German, from Middle High German ziegel
• Type: Occupational surname
• Usage: Germany, German-speaking Europe, among Emigrant populations