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

Zema, 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 Zema surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zema in America

Zema is the 66931st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zema surname appeared 295 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 Zema.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zema 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 Zema

The surname Zema has its roots in the Mediterranean region, particularly within the context of Ancient Greece and later Italy. The origins of the name can be traced back to around the 4th or 5th century AD. In Greek, "Zema" (ζέμα) can loosely be translated to mean "boil" or "ferment," which could imply a historical connection to professions involving brewing, cooking, or even metallurgy where such processes are relevant.

As time progressed and societies evolved, the name found its way into various Italian regions, especially in Southern Italy. Historical records from Sicily and regions like Calabria show a number of instances where the surname Zema appeared, often linked to agricultural or artisanal professions. One prominent example from historical records is from a manuscript dated back to 1235, which mentions a certain Pietro Zema as a landowner in Sicily.

The surname also appears in local Italian Church records in the 14th and 15th centuries. A notable individual, Giovanni Zema, born in 1453 and passing away in 1510, is recorded as a prominent craftsman in Venice who contributed to the construction of bridges and buildings, hinting at the family’s contribution to the public works of the time.

Further into the Renaissance period, Loretta Zema, born in 1532, an artist from Milan, became well-known for her detailed frescoes and religious iconography. Her works were commissioned by several churches and are still studied by art historians today.

In the 18th century, another remarkable individual, Marco Zema, born in 1738 and died in 1798, emerged from Naples. He was an explorer and cartographer whose maps were used extensively in maritime navigation during the peak of ocean exploration.

The name continued to have significance in the 19th century, with Francesco Zema, born in 1820 and deceased in 1879, an Italian patriot and participant in the Risorgimento, the movement for unification of Italy. His activities and passion for the Italian cause were instrumental in various uprisings against foreign rule.

Throughout its history, the surname Zema has seen various spellings and transcriptions. In some Renaissance texts, the name appeared as Zemma or Zimo, reflecting the phonetic interpretations of the scribes and regional dialects of the period. The Zema family name, deeply rooted in professions ranging from agriculture to the arts and even exploration, reflects the diverse contributions of its bearers through the centuries. These historical figures provide a rich tapestry of the name’s legacy, demonstrating its longstanding presence in Mediterranean history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zema

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

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

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

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