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

Ziems, 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 Ziems surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziems in America

Ziems is the 65424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziems surname appeared 303 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 Ziems.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ziems 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 Ziems

The surname Ziems is believed to have its origins in Germany, with its earliest traces dating back to medieval times. The name is thought to have emerged in the northern regions of Germany, particularly in the areas that are part of present-day Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein.

Linguistically, the surname Ziems might have been derived from an old Germanic word or could be traceable to a local dialect. Possible roots could include the Middle Low German word "sīm", which means "seam" or "border". This could indicate that the name originally described someone who lived on the edge or boundary of a settlement. Alternatively, Ziems could also derive from a given name or nickname that eventually evolved into a family name.

Historical references where the surname can be found are relatively sparse but noteworthy. Early instances of the name appear in church records, land transactions, and legal documents from the 14th and 15th centuries. For example, in a 1392 church record from Lübeck, Hans Ziems is mentioned as a witness. This indicates that the name was in use and recognized within established communities of the region during this time.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Ziems can be traced back to a document from 1350 in Mecklenburg, where a Johann Ziems is cited as a landowner. These early records suggest that the family may have held some social standing or importance within the regional feudal system.

Over the centuries, different variations and spellings of the surname have been documented, including Siems and Simes, indicating a phonetic evolution as the name spread to various regions and dialects influenced the spelling. Notable place names do not seem directly tied to the surname, but migration patterns during the 17th and 18th centuries spread the name through Prussia and into other parts of Europe.

Several individuals with this surname have played significant roles in history. One such person is Heinrich Ziems, a 16th-century merchant from Hamburg noted in trade records between 1570 and 1590. His involvement in the commerce of the Hanseatic League underscores the importance of the family in regional trade and economics.

Another notable historical figure is Friedrich Ziems, born in 1798 and a known physician in Kiel. His contributions to medical practices and involvement in early 19th-century healthcare improvements marked a significant period of professional growth tied to the name.

In the arts, Wilhelm Ziems emerged as a prominent painter and sculptor in Berlin during the late 19th century. Born in 1857, his works were influential in the development of naturalist styles in German art, gaining acclaim until his death in 1919.

The political realm also saw the influence of the Ziems surname with Carl Ziems, who served as a member of the Reichstag, the legislative body of the German Empire, during the late 19th century. His tenure from 1890 to 1902 reflects the family’s involvement in national issues and governance.

Lastly, in the academic world, Hermann Ziems, born in 1885, made significant contributions as a linguist and philologist, specializing in Germanic languages. His scholarly works and numerous publications from the early to mid-20th century have been cited in linguistic studies up to this day.

Through varied contributions in commerce, politics, arts, and academics, the Ziems surname has left a distinct mark on European history, reflecting a legacy of influence and prominence across several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziems

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!