Find out how popular the last name Zahm is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zahm.

Zahm, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zahm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zahm in America

Zahm is the 27228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zahm surname appeared 888 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zahm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zahm to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zahm

The surname Zahm has its origins in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely appearing first in the medieval period. This name is derived from an old Germanic word, possibly the Middle High German "zahn," meaning "tooth." The connection to "tooth" might have been used metaphorically to describe a person's characteristics or occupation, possibly indicating someone who worked with teeth or had a prominent set of teeth. Variations in spelling include Zahem or Zam, reflecting regional dialects and the phonetic spellings of the time.

The earliest references to the surname Zahm can be traced back to areas such as present-day Germany and Switzerland. Historical documents and records from these regions mention families with this surname. For instance, a document from the 14th century notes the presence of a Heinrich Zahm in a list of taxpaying citizens in Zurich. Such early records typically referred to landowners, traders, or craftsmen who were integral to the local economy.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zahm appears in a parish register book from the Bavarian region, dating back to the late 1500s. In this register, one finds a record of Hans Zahm, born in 1587, who was a noted cobbler in his village. Another individual, Margarethe Zahm, appears in the same book; she was born in 1592 and was known for her work as a midwife.

Another historic figure bearing this surname is Johann Zahm, born in 1654 in the Alsace region, which has changed hands between France and Germany several times over the centuries. He is noted for being a wine merchant who played a significant role in the local trade networks. His contributions to the community were documented in city archives, showing how the surname Zahm has been associated with various professions.

In the 17th century also, the name appears in Swiss records. Jakob Zahm, born in 1620, was a well-known clockmaker in Basel. His intricate designs and reliable craftsmanship made him a respected figure in his community, and several of his timepieces are now considered valuable antiques.

Finally, an important 18th-century individual with this surname is Friedrich Zahm, an academic who lived from 1740 to 1805. He authored several works on natural history and was a member of various learned societies in Vienna. His publications can still be found in the archives of European universities and provide insight into the scientific knowledge of his time.

Throughout history, the Zahm surname has been associated with a diverse array of professions and regions, reflecting the movement and integration of families across German-speaking Europe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zahm

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zahm.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zahm was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zahm has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zahm was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zahm, please contact us.

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