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

Zellman, 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 Zellman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zellman in America

Zellman is the 45253rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zellman surname appeared 473 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 Zellman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zellman 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 Zellman

The surname Zellman finds its origin in Germany, specifically in regions like Bavaria and Saxony. It arose around the Middle Ages, approximately in the 13th to 14th centuries. The name likely derives from the German word "Zelle," meaning "cell" or "monk’s cell," combined with “-mann,” meaning "man," suggesting a person who lived near or worked at a monastic cell or a hermit's abode.

Zellman and its variations have been documented in historical records and manuscripts. Early references to similar names can be found in medieval German documents, where variations like Zeller and Zellmann were more common. These names often appeared in tax records, charters, and land grants, indicating the socioeconomic status of the individuals bearing them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zellman can be traced back to the 13th century in the Bavarian region, where a Hans Zellman appears in a land registry document in 1284. The name slowly spread to other Germanic regions, sometimes altering slightly to fit local dialects and orthographic practices.

Renowned individuals bearing this surname include Johann Wilhelm Zellman, a prominent 15th-century German merchant born in 1423 and known for his extensive trade networks in Central Europe. Another notable figure is Klaus Zellman, a 16th-century jurist born in 1548, who made significant contributions to regional law practices in Saxony until his death in 1612.

In the 18th century, the name appears in the records of early German settlers in North America. Friedrich Zellman, born in 1720, was among the early immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. His influence as a community leader and farmer marked the beginning of the name's presence in the United States.

The surname Zellman also found its way into Swedish records, where Anders Zellman, a cleric born in 1695, made notable contributions to ecclesiastical literature and church administration until his death in 1763. His works serve as important historical documents for the study of Swedish church history.

By the 19th century, the Zellman surname had been carried to various parts of Europe and the Americas. Karl Zellman, born in 1805, became a noted figure in the fields of literature and philosophy in Prussia. His essays and critiques influenced contemporary thought until his death in 1871.

Thus, the surname Zellman carries a rich legacy, tracing back to medieval Bavarian roots and developing through significant historical and social contributions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zellman

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

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

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

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