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

Zalman, 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 Zalman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zalman in America

Zalman is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zalman surname appeared 141 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 Zalman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zalman 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 Zalman

The surname Zalman is of Jewish origin, predominantly found among Ashkenazi Jews. The name is believed to have originated from Eastern Europe, specifically within regions that now constitute Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus, during the late medieval period, approximately between the 14th and 16th centuries. Zalman is derived from the Yiddish equivalent of the Hebrew name Solomon, which itself has origins in the Hebrew word "Shlomo," meaning peace.

One of the earliest and most significant historical references to the name Zalman links back to the 18th century when Rabbi Zalman of Liadi, also known as Shneur Zalman (1745–1812), the founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement of Hasidism, emerged as a prominent figure. The name became more common and widespread through followers and descendants of such influential personalities.

Records and manuscripts from Eastern European Jewish communities in the 16th and 17th centuries reveal occasional mentions of individuals with the surname Zalman. These mentions are often found in marriage records, communal registers, and religious texts, indicating the name was well-integrated into the society's fabric at the time.

Another noteworthy individual is Zalman Shazar, born as Shneur Zalman Rubashov (1889–1974), who served as the third President of Israel from 1963 to 1973. His contributions to Israeli politics and literature have left a significant mark, bringing further recognition to the surname.

In the 19th century, Zalman Schneur (1887–1959), a distinguished Yiddish and Hebrew poet and author, carried the legacy of the name through his literary accomplishments. Schneur's works reflect the Jewish diaspora's cultural and social experiences in Europe and beyond.

Zalman Yoffe, a distinguished Russian-American kantorrebbe (cantor) born in the early 20th century, made impactful contributions to Jewish liturgical music, enriching the cultural heritage associated with the surname.

Zalman Aran (1899–1970), an influential Israeli politician and member of multiple Knessets, further exemplified the prominence of the surname in modern history. Aran's work significantly impacted the educational policies and development within the state of Israel.

The surname Zalman, although deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, eventually spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora. Its presence in historical documents, coupled with the achievements of numerous notable individuals bearing the name, underscores its lasting legacy and cultural significance over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zalman

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

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 Zalman 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 Zalman 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 Zalman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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