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

Zisman, 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 Zisman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zisman in America

Zisman is the 67943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zisman surname appeared 290 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 Zisman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zisman 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 Zisman

The surname Zisman traces its roots to Eastern Europe, with specific concentrations in Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Its origins can be pinpointed to Poland and the surrounding regions during the late Middle Ages, roughly around the 14th or 15th centuries. The name is believed to be derived from the Yiddish words "zise" meaning sweet or pleasant, and "man" meaning man or person, thus translating to "sweet man."

In the historical records, the surname Zisman appears in various forms. Early spellings such as Sussman and Susskind have been documented, emphasizing the phonetic similarities and gradual evolution of the name. The Polish records from the 16th century mention a Jacob Sismann living in Kraków, a hub of Jewish life, as a prominent community member.

One notable individual bearing the surname was Yankel Zisman, a trader residing in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth around 1650. Yankel's name appears in trade documents that highlight his dealings across Europe, making him one of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname.

By the 18th century, the name Zisman was relatively well-distributed in areas of modern-day Ukraine. A significant historical figure is Rabbi Moshe Zisman, born in 1789 and later known for his rabbinical teachings in Odessa. His work was influential in the Jewish communities, and his pupils carried forth his teachings, cementing his legacy.

In the 19th century, another Zisman emerged as a prominent figure: David Zisman, born in 1824, who was an influential businessman and philanthropist in Warsaw. His contributions to the Jewish community, including funding schools and synagogues, were well-documented, and his charitable work has been mentioned in several Jewish historical texts.

By the early 20th century, Zisman was also found in the United States, brought by emigrants fleeing the hardships of Eastern Europe. One such figure was Samuel Zisman, born in 1887, who settled in New York and became known for his involvement in the labor movements, advocating for better working conditions. His activism left an imprint on labor rights history.

The name Zisman, through its evolution and migration, reflects a rich tapestry of cultural and historical contexts, centered on community, trade, religious scholarship, and social activism.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zisman

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

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

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

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