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

Zeidel, 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 Zeidel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeidel in America

Zeidel is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeidel surname appeared 101 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 Zeidel.

The history of the last name Zeidel

The surname Zeidel has its origins primarily in Eastern Europe, with significant historical roots in regions that are now part of modern-day Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania. It is commonly associated with Ashkenazi Jewish communities. The name's derivation is most likely from the Yiddish word "zeidel," which means "tailor." This occupational surname indicated a person's profession in garment crafting, a common vocation among Jewish communities in Eastern Europe during the medieval and early modern periods.

Early historical records of the surname Zeidel indicate its presence in various Jewish communities. One of the first mentions of the name can be found in the fairly extensive registry of Jewish surnames in 18th-century Poland. The surname appears in several community records and synagogue registries. One specific mention can be found in the Jewish community of Kraków, a vibrant center of Jewish life, where a man named Abraham Zeidel was recorded in community documents in the early 1700s.

Over the centuries, the name Zeidel spread to other parts of Eastern Europe, and spelling variations such as Seidel and Zaidel emerged. Notably, in the city of Vilnius, a significant cultural and intellectual center known as the "Jerusalem of Lithuania," records from the mid-19th century show the presence of individuals like Israel Zeidel, born in 1824, who contributed to the local Jewish scholarly community.

The name Zeidel continued to appear in historical texts throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the records of the Jewish community of Odessa, a significant port city and hub of Jewish life on the Black Sea, a merchant named Aron Zeidel, born in 1857, is mentioned in business directories and community registers. His contributions to the local commerce and charity were well respected.

Further to the west, the name Zeidel also made its way into Germany, particularly in Berlin. Hermann Zeidel, born in 1871, became known as a writer and intellectual who contributed to Jewish literature and thought at the turn of the century. His writings provided insights into the life and challenges of Jewish communities during a time of significant social change and modernization.

By the early 20th century, individuals with the surname Zeidel began to appear in records related to immigration, particularly to the United States. For instance, Morris Zeidel, born in 1889 in what is now Ukraine, is documented as having arrived at Ellis Island in 1911. Settling in New York City, Morris Zeidel continued his trade as a tailor and became part of the vibrant Jewish immigrant community on the Lower East Side.

Throughout history, the surname Zeidel has been borne by individuals who played various roles in their communities, from scholars and merchants to writers and artisans. These individuals have contributed to the rich tapestry of Jewish cultural and professional life across Eastern Europe and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeidel

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

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 Zeidel 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.

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

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

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