Zimmerer last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zimmerer

A German occupational surname referring to a carpenter or woodworker.

Zimmerer, 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 Zimmerer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zimmerer in America

Zimmerer is the 27534th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zimmerer surname appeared 875 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 Zimmerer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zimmerer 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 27534 27413 0.44%
Count 875 828 5.52%
Proportion per 100k 0.30 0.31 -3.28%

The history of the last name Zimmerer

The surname Zimmerer originates from Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages, specifically the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. The name is occupational in nature, derived from the Middle High German word "zimerære," which translates to "carpenter" or "joiner." The Old High German equivalent is "zimbarari" or "zimbaro," indicating a person who worked with timber. This association with woodworking and construction highlights the significant role of carpenters in medieval society, particularly in the building of homes, ships, and furniture.

Zimmerer initially appeared in regions such as Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Austria, areas where German dialects were predominant and the craft of carpentry flourished. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries often reference individuals with this occupation, indicating the surname's early usage. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the 1297 tax records from Munich, listing a "Heinrich der Zimerer" as a resident taxpaying craftsman.

The surname has appeared in various historical documents over the centuries. In 1445, the city archives of Nuremberg refer to a "Hans Zimmerer," noted for his work on the town's wooden structures. Similarly, a "Johannes Zimmerer" is mentioned in the annals of Ulm in 1503, recognized for his expertise in building advanced wooden frameworks for cathedrals and public buildings.

One notable individual bearing the surname was Hans Zimmerer (1540-1608), a master carpenter in Würzburg who contributed significantly to the construction of several important edifices. His architectural prowess earned him recognition within the guilds of his time. Another distinguished Zimmerer was Andreas Zimmerer (1622-1689), who played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of Dresden after the Thirty Years’ War, showcasing his skills in restoring devastated wooden structures.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Zimmerer surname continued to be associated with craftsmanship and was borne by several notable figures. For instance, Karl Zimmerer (1856-1939) was a renowned cabinetmaker in Vienna, whose intricate designs were celebrated at various international expositions. August Zimmerer (1874-1960) made his mark as a prominent architect in Berlin, contributing to the urban landscape with his innovative timber designs.

Throughout history, the Zimmerer surname has remained closely linked to the profession of carpentry and woodworking, with its bearers often being central to the development and construction of significant structures in their respective regions. From medieval craftsmen to influential architects of more recent centuries, the name Zimmerer encapsulates a rich legacy of skill, craftsmanship, and contribution to architectural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zimmerer

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

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 Zimmerer was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.63% 828
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.91% 8
Hispanic Origin 3.43% 30

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 Zimmerer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.63% 96.26% -1.71%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 0.91% 0.97% -6.38%
Hispanic 3.43% 1.93% 55.97%

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

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

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"Zimmerer last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zimmerer-surname-popularity/.

"Zimmerer last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zimmerer-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Zimmerer last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zimmerer-surname-popularity/.

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