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

Zemel, 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 Zemel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zemel in America

Zemel is the 50106th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zemel surname appeared 418 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 Zemel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zemel 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 Zemel

The surname Zemel has its origins in Eastern Europe, primarily among Ashkenazi Jewish communities. It is believed to have emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 13th to 15th centuries. The surname likely originated from the Yiddish word "zemel," meaning "earth" or "soil," indicating a possible connection to farming or the land. Another theory suggests it could derive from the Hebrew word "zemira," meaning "song," which could imply an ancestral link to musicians or singers. The surname Zemel may have also originated from the German word "zamel," which means "to gather," possibly hinting at an occupation related to collection or trade.

Historically, the name Zemel has been mentioned in various records. One such example is found in the Pinkas Book (records of the Jewish Community) of Prague, dating back to the 16th century. Another early mention of the name can be found in legal documents from the Jewish community of Krakow in the early 17th century, emphasizing the geographic and cultural spread of the surname across significant Jewish population centers in Eastern Europe.

Among the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Mordechai Zemel, born in 1628, a merchant from Prague who is mentioned in trade records from 1653. Another notable historical figure is Rabbi Aaron Zemel, an influential Jewish scholar from Vilnius, born in 1743 and known for his contributions to Talmudic studies and Jewish education up until his death in 1820. The name Zemel also appears in the annals of wartime resistance; Samuel Zemel, born in 1905, was a member of the Zionist youth movement Hashomer Hatzair and part of the Jewish resistance during World War II, actively participating in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 before his untimely death in the same year.

Another individual of note is Dr. Sarah Zemel, born in 1889 in Odessa, who became one of the first Jewish female physicians in her region and was a noted advocate for women's health until her passing in 1962. Lastly, the surname is seen in the arts with Moshe Zemel, a renowned painter from Lvov, born in 1875, whose works are celebrated for their vivid portrayal of Jewish life and were exhibited internationally until his death in 1941.

The surname Zemel, resonant with historical significance, encapsulates a rich tapestry of land, music, and resilience, reflected in the lives of its bearers and their contributions to their communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zemel

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

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

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

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