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

Zeeff, 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 Zeeff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeeff in America

Zeeff is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeeff surname appeared 108 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 Zeeff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeeff 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 Zeeff

The surname Zeeff traces its origins to the Netherlands, emerging during the late medieval period, specifically around the 15th to 16th centuries. The name is believed to derive from the Dutch word "zee," meaning "sea," and could have been used to denote someone who lived by the sea, or who worked in a maritime occupation such as a fisherman or sailor. The suffix "eff" might be a diminutive or a regional variation, common to Dutch surnames originating from different dialects and areas within the country.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Zeeff appears in maritime documents from the 1580s relating to shipping registers in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. These documents frequently recorded the names of sailors and merchants involved in the burgeoning Dutch maritime trade. Similar surnames in nearby regions at the time included Zeeveld and Zeevink, reinforcing the nautical connection.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, individuals with the surname Zeeff can be found in various Dutch records, including church registers and tax records. Jan Zeeff, born in 1645 and recorded in the Amsterdam City Archives, was a notable merchant who partook in the Dutch East India Company's activities. His involvement in the trade routes between the Netherlands and the East Indies was significant during that period, reflecting the surname's association with the sea and commerce.

Another prominent figure was Willem Zeeff, a 17th-century naval captain born around 1660. Willem Zeeff's exploits during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, particularly his command of several naval vessels, were documented in military records of the time. His leadership during several key battles earned him recognition and cemented the Zeeff surname in the annals of Dutch naval history.

Maria Zeeff, an early 18th-century scholar born in Leiden in 1705, contributed to the era's intellectual circles. Her works in natural philosophy were influential, and her surname appears frequently in academic correspondences and publications stored in the Leiden University archives. Maria's contributions to the Enlightenment reflect the broadening scope of the fields in which the Zeeff family was involved.

Jacob Zeeff, a 19th-century artist born in 1832 in The Hague, added artistic legacy to the surname. His landscape paintings, especially those depicting maritime scenes, were exhibited in prominent Dutch art galleries and remain part of collections in museums such as the Rijksmuseum. His works provided a cultural reflection of the Netherlands’ enduring relationship with the sea.

Lastly, Cornelius Zeeff, born in 1825 and a relative contemporary of Jacob, played a significant role in the industrial revolution within the Netherlands. As an engineer and inventor, Cornelius held several patents related to shipbuilding and naval engineering. Historical records from the Dutch Patent Office show his innovative contributions to improving ship designs, which were crucial during a period of rapid technological advancement in marine travel.

The surname Zeeff, with its roots in maritime traditions, has spanned various facets of Dutch history, from commerce and military exploits to intellectual and artistic achievements. The historical footprint of the Zeeff family is scattered across multiple records, each reflecting their influence on Dutch heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeeff

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

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

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

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