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

Zinman, 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 Zinman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zinman in America

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

The Zinman 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 Zinman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zinman 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 Zinman

The surname Zinman has its origins in Eastern Europe, specifically within Jewish communities in regions that are now part of Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. The exact time period of the surname's inception is unclear, but it likely emerged in the late Middle Ages when the Jewish communities in these regions began adopting hereditary surnames for civic and administrative purposes. The name is believed to derive from the Yiddish word zin, meaning "son," combined with the Germanic suffix man, denoting "man" or "person," effectively translating to "son of..."

This surname bears semblance to other Ashkenazi Jewish surnames that also reflected lineage or geographical location, especially during a time when Jews were required to register surnames for tax and census reasons. Variations in spelling and pronunciation could have occurred due to regional dialects and transliteration from Hebrew and Yiddish into Latin script, with spellings like Zinnman or Zinmann once being common.

Historical references to the surname Zinman are sparse but significant. One early instance appears in the records of the Jewish community in Krakow, Poland, during the late 16th century. In particular, the Krakow census of 1588 lists a Jacob Zinman, suggesting that the name was already established within some families by this time.

One notable figure in the early history of the name was Rabbi Isaac Zinman (1784-1854) from Vilnius, Lithuania. As a prominent scholar and leader, he contributed to the legal and communal life of the Jewish population, which hints at the possible scholarly origins of some bearers of the surname.

Another reference comes from the historical manuscripts of the Jewish community in Prague from the early 17th century, mentioning a David Zinman as a merchant, indicating a diverse status among those carrying the name. This manuscript, preserved in the Prague Jewish Museum, highlights the spread and establishment of the surname in various parts of Eastern Europe.

Leonard Zinman (1819-1885) was a notable industrialist in Lodz, Poland, during the 19th century. His contributions to the burgeoning textile industry in the region mark a period when Jewish entrepreneurs played crucial roles in economic development. His activities extended through important political and social circles of the time.

In the realm of music, Michael Zinman (1856-1922) was a well-known violinist and conductor in Odessa, Russia. His performances and compositions gained a following in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, showcasing the artistic talents associated with the name.

The literary world acknowledges a 20th-century author, Eric Zinman (1885-1960), whose writings on Jewish folklore and history gained him recognition. His works provided an insightful look into the cultural heritage of Jews in Eastern Europe, preserving narratives that might have otherwise been lost.

Finally, Martin Zinman (1915-1985), a noted historian and professor, contributed significantly to the study of Jewish migration patterns in the 20th century. His research illuminated the complexities and struggles faced by Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and their eventual diaspora.

The surname Zinman encapsulates a rich heritage filled with academic, entrepreneurial, and creative accomplishments, reflecting the diverse roles played by its bearers in various societal spheres. The historical journey of this surname from Eastern Europe to various parts of the world symbolizes the vibrant and enduring legacy of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zinman

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

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

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

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