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

Zilm, 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 Zilm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zilm in America

Zilm is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zilm surname appeared 240 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 Zilm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zilm 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 Zilm

The surname Zilm is believed to have originated in Germany, particularly within the regions of Saxony and Thuringia. The earliest records suggest its roots can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th centuries. The name is considered to be of Germanic origin, and its etymology is likely tied to an older High German word, or possibly a byname or nickname reflective of a particular characteristic, occupation, or geographic feature.

Early documentation of the name Zilm shows variability in spelling, such as Zilme, Cilme, or even Silm. These variations were common in the Middle Ages due to the influence of local dialects and evolving orthographic practices. The name could be derived from an Old High German personal name or term, though precise meanings may be obscured by linguistic shifts over centuries.

One of the earliest records of the name Zilm appears in the records of Saxon nobility. A Wilhelm Zilm, born in 1265 and noted in a Latin manuscript in 1297, served as a minor official in a local court. While not immensely prominent, his role underlines the surname’s presence in historical documents. By the 15th century, individuals bearing the surname were found in various civic registers, indicating the gradual spread of the name across regions.

The surname Zilm is also present in tax lists and trade registers from the Renaissance period, where another notable figure, Johannes Zilm (1482-1549), emerges. He was a merchant based in Leipzig who contributed to the city's burgeoning trade network. His records indicate considerable activity in regional commerce, establishing the Zilm name within the burgeoning urban middle class.

Further, archival materials from the 17th century document Friedrich Zilm, born in 1610, who appears in several legal documents involved in land transactions in the Thuringian area. These entries not only confirm the Zilm family’s engagement in landholding but also depict their integration into local governance structures.

By the 18th century, the surname had traveled beyond its initial geographic confines. In 1723, a Jacob Zilm (1695-1762) is found recorded in emigration lists, indicating a move to the Americas, particularly to Pennsylvania. His subsequent life as a settler exemplifies the transatlantic migration trends of the period and the spread of European surnames to the New World.

In the 19th century, records highlight another significant individual, Karl Zilm (1823-1884), an educator in Dresden who contributed to the academic reforms of his time. His works and educational philosophy were well-regarded, further embedding the Zilm surname within the fabric of local professional life.

The evolution of the surname Zilm from medieval Germany through various professions and transatlantic migrations illustrates a rich tapestry of socio-economic changes. The persistence of the name in historical records across several centuries attests to its enduring presence and the diverse roles its bearers have undertaken in history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zilm

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

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

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

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