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

Zeeman, 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 Zeeman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeeman in America

Zeeman is the 55121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeeman surname appeared 373 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 Zeeman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeeman 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 Zeeman

The surname Zeeman has its origins in the Netherlands and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Deriving from the Dutch word "zeeman," which translates to "seaman" or "sailor," the name reflects the maritime culture of the Netherlands, a country with a long and storied history of seafaring. The Dutch term itself breaks down further into "zee," meaning "sea," and "man," meaning "man," directly denoting someone who worked at or lived by the sea.

The name Zeeman is thought to have originated in regions connected to significant maritime activity, particularly in coastal provinces such as Zeeland and North Holland. These areas have a rich naval history, and many of the inhabitants historically made their living through seafaring, fishing, or trading via the sea.

In historical documents, the name appears relatively early, though specific records often remain fragmented. One notable appearance is in maritime logs and local registries from the 16th and 17th centuries, during which the Dutch were prominent in global exploration and trade. For instance, an early record mentions a Dutch sailor named Pieter Zeeman, known to have been active in trading spices between the Netherlands and the East Indies around 1590.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name is Pieter Zeeman, born in 1865 and died in 1943, a Dutch physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1902 for his discovery of the Zeeman effect, which describes the splitting of spectral lines in the presence of a magnetic field. His contributions significantly advanced the field of quantum mechanics and solidified the Zeeman name in scientific history.

Another historical figure is Cornelis Zeeman, an admiral in the Dutch Navy during the late 17th century. Born in 1641, Cornelis played a significant role in various naval battles against the English and French during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, bringing renown to his surname. His naval legacy is documented in several maritime logs and national records.

In the arts, the name can be found in the records of the early 18th century through Jan Zeeman, a noted painter from Amsterdam, whose works predominantly featured maritime scenes and life on the Dutch coast. Jan Zeeman was born in 1680 and his detailed renderings have provided a valuable historical insight into the period's naval activities.

From a genealogical perspective, records from the 17th and 18th centuries list several Zeemans who settled in different parts of Europe and the New World, involving themselves in shipping and trade. One such individual was Hendrik Zeeman, born in 1720, who moved to New Amsterdam (modern-day New York) in 1745, becoming a successful merchant.

The Zeeman surname persists as a testament to the Netherlands’ seafaring legacy, continuing to bear relevance in historical studies, genealogical research, and maritime culture. Through the centuries, the name encapsulates a rich tapestry of individual stories tied to the enduring lure and challenge of the sea.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeeman

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

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

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

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