Zidell last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zidell

A surname of Yiddish origin, likely derived from the Hebrew name "Zidkiyah" meaning "righteousness of God."

Zidell, 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 Zidell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zidell in America

Zidell is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zidell surname appeared 127 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 Zidell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zidell 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 133048 146011 -9.29%
Count 127 104 19.91%
Proportion per 100k 0.04 0.04 0.00%

The history of the last name Zidell

The surname Zidell has its origins in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, particularly within the regions that were once part of Poland and Lithuania. The name most commonly appears in the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, and likely dates back to the late medieval period. Eastern European surnames often have roots in trades, personal characteristics, or geographic locations, and Zidell follows this tradition.

The surname Zidell is believed to be a variation of the Yiddish surname Tzidel or Tzidl, which itself could be an occupational name related to the wool trade. The word "tzid", found in some Yiddish dialects, is connected to the old German word "Ziedel", which means "a small measure of liquid or wool". This etymological link suggests that bearers of the surname could have been associated with the textile industry or wool merchants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname dates back to the 17th century in the city of Vilnius, then part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During this time, records show a Yosef Zidell, a wool merchant known within the local Jewish community. This reference indicates the surname's connection to the wool trade, affirming the etymological hypothesis.

Another notable mention is found in 18th century Prussia, where a Rabbi named Samuel Zidell was documented. Born in 1692 and passing in 1765, Rabbi Samuel Zidell made contributions to local scholarship and left behind writings that continue to be studied within Jewish theological circles.

In the early 19th century, a prominent figure named Moishe Zidell emerged in Warsaw, Poland. Born in 1803, Moishe was a staple of the city's growing merchant class, specifically known for dealing in fabrics and textiles. His role in the economic and social life of Warsaw's Jewish quarter is well-documented in trade records of the time.

Another historical figure bearing the surname Zidell is Miriam Zidell, a poet from Odessa. Born in 1874, Miriam's works often reflected the socio-political changes impacting Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. Her poetry, lauded for its lyrical quality and depth, offers an emotional chronicle of her era.

During the 20th century, Nathan Zidell gained recognition in the United States. Born in 1901, Nathan immigrated from Eastern Europe to New York in the early 1920s. He became a noteworthy figure in the garment industry, carrying on the textile connection of his forebears. His entrepreneurship and philanthropic efforts left a lasting mark within the Jewish American community.

Throughout its history, the surname Zidell has been associated with trade, particularly in textiles, and has appeared in various forms across Eastern Europe. From merchants and rabbis to poets and entrepreneurs, the Zidell name encapsulates a rich cultural and occupational heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zidell

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

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 Zidell was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 90.55% 115
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 6.30% 8

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 Zidell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 90.55% 93.27% -2.96%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 6.30% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zidell last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zidell-surname-popularity/.

"Zidell last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zidell-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 April, 2025

Zidell last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zidell-surname-popularity/.

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