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

Ziemke, 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 Ziemke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziemke in America

Ziemke is the 41959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziemke surname appeared 518 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 Ziemke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ziemke 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 Ziemke

The surname Ziemke is of German origin, specifically linked to the regions of Prussia and Pomerania. The name began appearing in historical records from the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. It is believed to derive from the Middle Low German word "zim," meaning "timber" or "forest," coupled with the diminutive suffix "-ke." This etymology suggests that early bearers of the name might have been involved in forestry or lived near wooded areas.

Ziemke has appeared in various historical documents, although its earliest recorded instances are somewhat obscure. In medieval times, records were sparse and often decentralized, but some of the earliest documentation of the surname can be traced to Prussian court records in the 15th century. One notable early reference appears in the town registers of Königsberg, now known as Kaliningrad, where a Johann Ziemke is documented as a landowner in 1483.

By the 17th century, the surname had spread to surrounding areas within Prussia. A notable individual during this period was Georg Ziemke, born in 1642, who served as a merchant in Danzig (modern-day Gdańsk). His business dealings are well-documented, and he was known for trading goods between Prussia and the Scandinavian countries.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence due to Carl Friedrich Ziemke (1798-1857), a respected German botanist. His contributions to botany included detailed studies of plant species native to the Pomeranian region. His works were published in several botanical journals of the time, making the Ziemke name well-known in scientific circles.

Another important figure was Heinrich Ziemke, born in 1822, who was a notable Prussian military officer. His detailed accounts of the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 were invaluable to historians and provided significant insights into the strategies employed during the conflict.

In the realm of literature and academics, Paul Ziemke (1873-1947) gained recognition as a historian and author. His works focused on German medieval history, and he was a prominent professor at the University of Berlin. His extensive research on the early settlements of Prussia remains a reference for scholars studying the region's history.

Overall, the surname Ziemke carries a rich historical background rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe. Its bearers have contributed to various fields, from military and commerce to academia and science, solidifying its presence in historical records throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziemke

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

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

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

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