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

Zemla, 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 Zemla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zemla in America

Zemla is the 67747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zemla surname appeared 291 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 Zemla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zemla 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 Zemla

The surname Zemla has its origins in Eastern Europe, most notably within the regions that encompass modern-day Poland and the Czech Republic. The name is derived from the Old Slavic word "zemlja," which means "earth" or "land." This etymology suggests a connection to the earth, whether through farming, land ownership, or geographical features that resonated deeply in agrarian societies of the time.

The earliest references to the name Zemla can be traced back to medieval manuscripts in the 13th century. Historical records from the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth often contained variants of the surname, such as Semla and Ziemla, reflecting the phonetic and orthographic particularities of the time. The appearance of the name in official documents indicates that individuals bearing this surname were of some standing, possibly landowners or involved in local governance.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Jakub Zemla, a land surveyor in the Silesian region around 1345. His work on documenting land boundaries is detailed in local archives, providing invaluable insights into medieval land management practices. Another figure of note is Jan Zemla, a 15th-century knight who served under the banner of the Polish King Władysław III. His valor in battle was chronicled in the royal annals, marking a significant contribution to the military history of the Polish kingdom.

In the 16th century, a notable merchant named Tomasz Zemla rose to prominence in Kraków. Born in 1523, he established a successful trade network that extended from the Baltic to the Adriatic Sea. His business acumen and involvement in civic affairs greatly contributed to the economic and cultural development of the city. Tomasz Zemla’s legacy continued through his descendants, who maintained significant influence in regional trade for several generations.

The surname's presence persisted into the 17th and 18th centuries, evidenced by records of Michał Zemla, who was a well-regarded scholar and member of the Royal Society of Bohemia. Born in 1648, Michał made significant contributions to the fields of natural sciences and literature. His published works, some of which have survived the ravages of time, provide a window into the intellectual pursuits of his era.

Another notable bearer of the name was Katarzyna Zemla, born in 1742 in Warsaw. She served as a midwife during a time when professional medical practice for women was rare and highly exceptional. Her expertise and compassionate care earned her widespread recognition and respect, as chronicled in several medical archives from the period.

The history of the surname Zemla is intertwined with the cultural and socio-economic fabric of Eastern Europe. Through various notable individuals across centuries, the name has left an indelible mark on the historical landscape of the regions it originated from.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zemla

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

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

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

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