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

Zieve, 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 Zieve surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zieve in America

Zieve is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zieve surname appeared 102 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 Zieve.

The history of the last name Zieve

The surname Zieve is believed to have its origins in Eastern Europe, primarily among Ashkenazi Jewish communities. This surname is found in regions that today encompass parts of Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. The name Zieve is thought to derive from a Yiddish variation of the Hebrew name "Ze’ev," which means "wolf." Historically, the wolf is a significant symbol in Jewish culture, often representing bravery and leadership.

The surname Zieve appears in various historical records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known references to a name of similar form is in the 16th century in Poland, where Jewish communities were well-established. A notable record is a 1580 census of Jewish families in Krakow, where a Zlata Zieve is mentioned as part of the Jewish community. Names often varied in spelling during this period due to transliteration from Hebrew or Yiddish into the Latin alphabet.

One notable figure with the surname Zieve is Chaim Zieve, a rabbi and scholar born in 1720 and who died in 1790. He was known for his extensive religious writings and contributions to Jewish thought in Eastern Europe. Another renowned individual is Leah Zieve, a midwife and community leader from Vilnius, Lithuania, born in 1805 and who died in 1878. Her diaries, discovered posthumously, provide a valuable record of Jewish life in the 19th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname Zieve became more commonly recorded among Jewish immigrants to the United States. One significant person is Samuel Zieve, born in 1871, who arrived in New York in 1892 and eventually became a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the Jewish community of Brooklyn. His contributions to Jewish education and welfare are well-documented.

Another historical figure is Miriam Zieve, born in 1885, a notable suffragette and social activist based in Chicago. She was instrumental in the women's suffrage movement in the United States and was known for her advocacy for Jewish women’s rights until her death in 1957. Additionally, David Zieve, born in 1914 and died in 1992, was a celebrated chemist whose research significantly advanced the field of organic chemistry.

While the surname Zieve is not exceedingly common, it carries a rich history deeply entwined with the Jewish experience in Eastern Europe and the subsequent diaspora. The name's etymological roots and historical significance underscore the enduring legacy of those who bore it, from rabbis and scholars to activists and scientists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zieve

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

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 Zieve 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.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zieve, 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!