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

Zimmers, 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 Zimmers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zimmers in America

Zimmers is the 52383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zimmers surname appeared 396 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 Zimmers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zimmers 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 Zimmers

The surname Zimmers is of German origin, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is primarily found in the regions of Bavaria and the Rhineland but also appears in other German-speaking areas. It is derived from the Old High German word zimbar, which means timber or wood. The name is occupational in nature, originally referring to someone who worked with wood, particularly a carpenter or a builder.

The variant forms of the name include Zimmer and Zimmermann, with similar spellings like Zimmerman being prevalent in German-speaking regions. Over time, as language and spelling evolved, the surname Zimmers emerged as a distinct variant. Historical references to the name can be found in various medieval documents and manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances is from the Rhineland in the late 13th century, where a carpenter named Heinrich Zimmers is mentioned in a guild record from the year 1278.

Another notable early bearer of the surname is Johann Zimmers, who appears in land ownership records in Bavaria around 1395. As an active member of his local community, Johann was involved in the construction of several important structures, contributing to the architectural heritage of the region.

In the 16th century, the name Zimmers continued to spread across Germany. A significant figure during this time was Peter Zimmers, born in 1523 and known for his skill as a master carpenter. His work on various cathedrals and castles earned him recognition, and his contributions to the field are documented in several historical archives.

By the 18th century, the Zimmers surname had crossed into Austria and Switzerland, following patterns of migration and trade. Friedrich Zimmers, born in 1741, was a renowned furniture maker in Vienna. His fine craftsmanship and innovative designs were highly sought after by the aristocracy, and pieces attributed to him are still displayed in museums today.

In the 19th century, as emigration to the United States became more common, individuals bearing the surname Zimmers established new roots overseas. One pioneering figure from this period is Anna Maria Zimmers, born in 1818, who emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 1850s. Her descendants went on to become prominent members of their communities, with a few entering into public office and local business.

Through its linguistic evolution and historical presence across regions in Europe and America, the surname Zimmers remains a testament to the craft of woodworking and the cultural heritage of those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zimmers

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

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

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

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