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

Zemke, 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 Zemke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zemke in America

Zemke is the 22081st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zemke surname appeared 1,173 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 Zemke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zemke 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 Zemke

The surname Zemke has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically within the areas that are now Poland and Germany. The name is derived from the Polish diminutive form "Zem" from the root name "Ziemowit” or “Ziemomysł," which were old Slavic personal names. The ending 'ke' is a diminutive suffix of Germanic origin, which was often applied to surnames to indicate "little" or "son of." This suggests that the name Zemke could historically mean "little Ziemowit" or "son of Ziemowit."

In historical records, surnames like Zemke often appeared in the context of small rural communities and feudal estates. One of the earliest mentions is from the West Prussian area, which was a part of the Teutonic Order's dominion in the late Middle Ages. By the early 16th century, records from the Gdańsk (Danzig) area reference the Zemke name in parish registries and tax records.

For instance, a notable early mention includes a man named Johann Zemke, who was documented in church records in Danzig around 1612. Another historical figure, Andreas Zemke, served as a town councilor in the city of Marienburg (Malbork) during the mid-17th century. Both instances highlight the surname’s connection to specific localities in what is now Poland but was historically subject to shifting political boundaries.

The surname expanded westward as geopolitical events unfolded. By the 18th century, bearers of the name Zemke can be found in Brandenburg records. One of the earliest recorded examples in Germany is Friedrich Zemke, born in 1758, who was a noted farmer in the Brandenburg region.

Further into the 19th century, the name Zemke appeared in military records tied to the Napoleonic Wars. Wilhelm Zemke, born in 1799, served as an officer in the Prussian army, documented in regimental lists of the early 1820s. His service included involvement in important campaigns that shaped European history.

In the 20th century, notable individuals with the surname Zemke include Hubert Zemke, born in 1914, who gained fame as a highly decorated American World War II pilot. He became a prominent figure due to his distinctive contribution to aerial combat during the war. Wilhelm Zemke, an inventor and engineer born in 1887, contributed significantly to industrial processes in Germany, particularly related to the chemical industry.

Each of these instances underscores the surname's rich historical tapestry and evolving geographic distribution, linking it closely with Eastern and Central European history. These examples reflect the diverse and adapted nature of the surname Zemke, painting a picture of a family name that has played various roles across significant historical periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zemke

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

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

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

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