2000
#126,400
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zimring
A surname derived from the Yiddish word "zimmer" meaning carpenter or woodworker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 153 Americans carry the last name Zimring. That puts it at #132,523 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,240,224 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zimring surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
153
1 in 2,240,224
Census rank
#132,523
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
133
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 133 bearers of the surname Zimring in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 132523rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zimring, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zimring
The surname Zimring has its origins in Eastern Europe, most likely deriving from Jewish communities in Poland or Lithuania during the 17th or 18th century. The name is believed to have roots in the Yiddish language, which itself is a fusion of Germanic, Hebrew, and Slavic languages. One possible origin of Zimring is from the Yiddish word "zimr," which means "song" or "praise," indicating that the name might have been attributed to families involved in musical professions or liturgical roles.
The surname Zimring is relatively uncommon and does not appear in many early records; however, it has been documented in various archives and genealogical manuscripts dating back to the 18th century. It wasn't until the 19th century that more concrete records of the name began to surface, as Jews in Eastern Europe were required by various decrees to adopt permanent surnames, a practice previously resisted due to traditional naming conventions.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname is Shmuel Zimring, born in 1798 in the region that is today Belarus. He appears in local tax records from the 1820s which detailed the members of Jewish communities for taxation purposes. Another notable figure is Moshe Zimring, born in 1842, known for his work as a religious scholar and scribe. His manuscripts, some of which are preserved in European libraries, indicate the respect he held within his community.
In the early 20th century, individuals with the surname Zimring began to emigrate to the United States and other parts of the world, often fleeing pogroms and seeking better opportunities. One such individual was Hyman Zimring, born in 1885, who emigrated to New York in 1905. He became a well-known figure in the garment industry, contributing to the development of the Jewish labor movement.
Further documentation can be found in Ellis Island records, listing individuals such as Fanny Zimring, born in 1896, who arrived in the United States in 1921. Her family, like many others, was escaping post-war Europe and seeking refuge in America. Fanny's descendants continued to bear the surname, integrating into American society while maintaining their cultural heritage.
Another prominent Zimring, Franklin E. Zimring, born in 1942, is a legal scholar recognized for his contributions to criminal law and juvenile justice. His work has been influential in both academic and policy circles, illustrating how the surname has come to be associated with significant intellectual and professional achievements over time.
Overall, the surname Zimring encapsulates a rich tapestry of historical migrations, professional achievements, and cultural contributions, with roots deeply embedded in Jewish Eastern European history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zimring
Among Census respondents with the surname Zimring, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Zimring bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zimring surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.0% · 117
- Hispanic or Latino5.3% · 7
- Two or more races4.5% · 6
- Black or African American1.5% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zimring
Zimring appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#134,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 125
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,312 places
2020
#132,523
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
+8 bearers (+6.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,189 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #126,400 | 125 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #134,712 | 125 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 8,312 places |
| 2020 | #132,523 | 133 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+6.4%) | Up 2,189 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zimring surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #134,712 | #132,523 | 1.6% |
| Count | 125 | 133 | 6.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 11.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zimring bearers went from 125 to 133 (+6.4% change). The surname moved up 2,189 positions in the national ranking, going from #134,712 to #132,523.
FAQ
Zimring surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zimring?
Name Census estimates that about 153 living Americans carry the surname Zimring. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,240,224 residents.
How common is Zimring?
Zimring ranks #132,523 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 133 people with the surname Zimring. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (153), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zimring.
Has Zimring become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zimring went from 125 recorded bearers to 133. That is an increase of 8 (+6.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #134,712 to #132,523.
What does the Census say about the background of Zimring?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zimring, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.3%) and Two or More Races (4.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zimring in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.0% (117 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zimring appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.0%), Hispanic (5.3%), Two or More Races (4.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zimring (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zimring mean?
A surname derived from the Yiddish word "zimmer" meaning carpenter or woodworker. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zimring (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Zimring?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.