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

Zillman, 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 Zillman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zillman in America

Zillman is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zillman surname appeared 213 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 Zillman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zillman 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 Zillman

The surname Zillman has its origins in Germany. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, possibly around the 12th or 13th century. The name is most commonly associated with the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, areas with rich histories and longstanding traditions.

The name Zillman likely derives from the German word "Zill" or "Zille," which refers to a type of flat-bottomed boat traditionally used on rivers such as the Danube and Elbe. The suffix "man" or "mann" is a common Germanic suffix meaning "man" or "person." Therefore, Zillman could be interpreted as "boatman" or "man of the boat," indicating an ancestor who worked as a boatman or ferryman.

Historical references to the surname Zillman are rare but significant. One of the earliest recorded instances appears in a 14th-century Bavarian tax register, where a Henricus Zillman is noted as a landowner in the small village of Grünwald, near Munich. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by this time.

In the 15th century, the Zillman name appears again in church records from Dresden. An early instance involves Johannes Zillman, who was documented as a craftsman and guild member in 1484. His involvement in the guild could indicate a transition from river-related occupations to more settled trades.

Moving forward to the 17th century, another notable figure is Hans Zillman, born in 1623 in Nuremberg. Hans was a renowned goldsmith, known for his intricate designs and workmanship. His creations were sought after by the nobility of his time, and he is often cited in regional histories of craftsmanship.

In the 19th century, Johann Friedrich Zillman, born in 1807, is a prominent figure. He immigrated to Australia and became one of the pioneering settlers in Queensland. Johann Friedrich's contributions to agriculture and community development were significant, establishing the Zillman name in a new context far from its German roots.

Another significant individual is Auguste Zillman, born in 1849 in Saxony. Auguste was a well-known botanist who contributed to the early studies of flora in several German-speaking regions. Her work was instrumental in the cataloging and understanding of regional plant species.

Through these various periods and individuals, the surname Zillman illustrates a history of adaptation and diversity in occupation and geography. From medieval boatmen to craftsmen, settlers, and scientists, the name has woven itself into the fabric of history within and beyond Germany.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zillman

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

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

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

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