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

Zimmel, 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 Zimmel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zimmel in America

Zimmel is the 74826th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zimmel surname appeared 258 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 Zimmel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zimmel 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 Zimmel

The surname Zimmel is believed to have roots in Germany, originating sometime in the Middle Ages. Initially prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and surrounding areas, the name is derived from the German word "Ziegel," meaning "brick." This etymology suggests a possible occupation-related origin, wherein individuals bearing the surname were likely associated with brick-making or brick-laying professions, crucial trades in medieval urban development.

In addition to direct occupation-related derivations, the surname Zimmel may have variations or similar spellings seen in historical manuscripts and records. For instance, "Zimmner" or "Zimmler" might appear in old Germanic texts, reflecting dialectal and regional spelling differences over time.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Zimmel appear in village records and tax documents from the 14th and 15th centuries within the medieval Holy Roman Empire. References to a Hans Zimmel, a brickmaker in Nuremberg, date back to 1427. Another early instance includes a Wilhelm Zimmel, landholder in the Bavarian town of Augsburg, documented circa 1483.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Zimmel continued to be recorded in various regions of what is modern-day Germany. For example, the baptismal records from a church in Munich note the christening of Maria Zimmel in 1562, indicating the name's endurance through generations.

In the 18th century, notable bearers of the surname include Christoph Zimmel, a master craftsman in Vienna, born in 1714 and died in 1778. His work in the construction and development of residential buildings stands as a testament to the trade heritage implied by the surname.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the emergence of August Zimmel, an influential industrialist in Berlin (born in 1839 and died in 1902), underscores the diverse roles that individuals with this surname have played over centuries, moving from traditional craftsmanship to modern industry roles.

Additionally, the name Zimmel surfaces in the annals of European migration records. Johan Zimmel, born in 1811, is documented as having emigrated to the United States during the mid-19th century, indicating the spread and diaspora of this surname beyond its Germanic roots.

The historical evolution of the surname Zimmel from its origin in medieval Germany to its presence in various professional and social contexts reflects the dynamic nature of surnames as markers of trade, location, and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zimmel

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

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

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

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