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

Zemba, 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 Zemba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zemba in America

Zemba is the 43285th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zemba surname appeared 499 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 Zemba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zemba 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 Zemba

The surname Zemba has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically from regions that are now part of modern-day Poland and Ukraine. The name is believed to have emerged during the late Medieval period, around the 14th or 15th century. In these areas, it is thought to have been derived from the word "zemb," a Slavic term related to land or earth, possibly indicating that the original bearers of the name were landowners, farmers, or people closely connected with the earth. Another theory suggests that Zemba may be a diminutive form or variation of a longer, more complex Slavic surname.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Zemba appears in old ecclesiastical records from Poland in the early 16th century. A notable appearance is in a 1532 document listing land grants, where a Piotr Zemba is mentioned as a landholder in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. This reference indicates the name's early association with particular territories and perhaps a certain level of social standing.

In historical manuscripts, Zemba is sometimes found with different spellings, such as Zęba or Zembała, reflective of regional dialects and the fluid orthographic conventions of the time. These variations appear in a variety of records, including census logs, court documents, and church registries.

One historical figure with the surname is Jan Zemba, a notable merchant in Kraków, active during the 17th century (approx. 1630-1690). His business dealings are well-documented in the city's trade records, illustrating the family’s involvement in urban commerce. Another individual of some renown is Katarzyna Zemba, born in 1704, who married into a noble family and whose life is recorded in various genealogical references from the 18th century.

In the 19th century, during the period of partitions and significant political upheaval in Poland, a Faustyn Zemba (1821-1886) rose to prominence as a local leader in resistance efforts against occupying powers. His contributions are noted in several memoirs and historical accounts of the era, highlighting the surname's continued presence in the region's socio-political fabric.

In more recent centuries, the name Zemba made its way across the Atlantic, appearing in American immigration records from the late 1800s. One such immigrant, Joseph Zemba (1865-1942), established himself in Chicago, where he became a successful businessman and community leader among Polish-American circles. His story is emblematic of the broader diaspora of Eastern European surnames adapting to new contexts.

Throughout history, the surname Zemba has been borne by individuals across various fields and regions, their legacies encapsulating the name's rich and diverse heritage. The evolution of its spelling and usage reflects broader historical trends in migration, linguistic change, and social transformation, painting a vivid picture of a name deeply rooted in the lands from which it sprang.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zemba

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

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

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

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