2000
#28,974
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 772
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.29
Very Rare Last name
Zollman
A surname of German origin meaning someone from a toll or customs house.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 940 Americans carry the last name Zollman. That puts it at #30,500 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.27 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 364,632 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zollman 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
940
1 in 364,632
Census rank
#30,500
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
820
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 820 bearers of the surname Zollman in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 30500th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zollman, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zollman
Zollman is a surname with German origins, deriving from the word "zoll," which means "toll" or "duty," and "mann," meaning "man." The term "zollman" initially referred to a person who collected tolls or duties, likely working as a tax or customs officer. This occupational surname became more common in the regions of medieval Germany, particularly in areas with significant trade routes where toll collection was essential.
The surname Zollman can trace its roots to the Middle Ages, around the 13th to 15th centuries, when economic activities and the collection of tariffs were vital for the local economy. Similar spellings, such as Zollmann, Zöllmann, and Zollmann, emerged in various German-speaking areas, adapting to regional linguistic variations. Early references to this name can often be found in historical documents and city archives in regions like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zollman dates back to a medieval tax ledger in Bavaria from the year 1386, documenting a Hans Zollman, indicating his role as a toll collector along a prominent trade route. Another historical figure mentioned in the 15th century is Wilhelm Zollmann, a customs officer working in the Frankfort region, demonstrating the continuation of the surname's occupational link.
In the context of famous Zollmans, Hans-Georg Zollmann (born 1545, died 1612) was a noted figure in early modern history, serving as a toll officer in the Free City of Hamburg, a significant trading hub. This role positioned him as an important player in managing the flow of goods and securing revenue for the Hanseatic League. Also noteworthy is Friederike Zollmann (born 1683, died 1742), a landowner in Bavaria who managed estates along key trading routes, further perpetuating the association with toll collection and economic control.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Zollman surname spread beyond German borders, often appearing in official records of immigration as families moved to the Americas seeking better opportunities. Samuel Zollman (born 1760, died 1833) was an early settler in the United States, establishing roots in Pennsylvania, which was a major entry point for many German immigrants. His descendants would later spread across various states, maintaining the surname's European heritage.
Another significant individual in the history of this surname is Friedrich Zollman (born 1829, died 1897), who made his name as a merchant in the port city of Bremen. His successful trading operations played a crucial part in the city's economic expansion during the latter half of the 19th century.
The Zollman surname encapsulates a rich history tied to the occupation of toll collection and underscores the importance of trade and economic control in medieval and early modern Europe. Through various historical references and notable individuals, the name illustrates a legacy that has transitioned from an occupation to a lasting family name across generations and continents.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zollman
Among Census respondents with the surname Zollman, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Zollman 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 Zollman surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.9% · 778
- Two or more races2.7% · 22
- Hispanic or Latino1.6% · 13
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 5
- Black or African American0.1% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zollman
Zollman 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
#35,622
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 631
-141 bearers (-18.3%)
Per 100,000 0.21
Rank movement Down 6,648 places
2020
#30,500
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 820
+189 bearers (+30.0%)
Per 100,000 0.27
Rank movement Up 5,122 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #28,974 | 772 | 0.29 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #35,622 | 631 | 0.21 | -141 bearers (-18.3%) | Down 6,648 places |
| 2020 | #30,500 | 820 | 0.27 | +189 bearers (+30.0%) | Up 5,122 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 Zollman 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 | #35,622 | #30,500 | 14.4% |
| Count | 631 | 820 | 30.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.21 | 0.27 | 30.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zollman bearers went from 631 to 820 (+30.0% change). The surname moved up 5,122 positions in the national ranking, going from #35,622 to #30,500.
FAQ
Zollman surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zollman?
Name Census estimates that about 940 living Americans carry the surname Zollman. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 364,632 residents.
How common is Zollman?
Zollman ranks #30,500 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.27 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 820 people with the surname Zollman. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (940), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.27 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.27 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 Zollman.
Has Zollman become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zollman went from 631 recorded bearers to 820. That is an increase of 189 (+30.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #35,622 to #30,500.
What does the Census say about the background of Zollman?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zollman, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and Hispanic (1.6%). 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 Zollman in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.9% (778 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zollman appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.9%), Two or More Races (2.7%), Hispanic (1.6%). 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 Zollman (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 Zollman mean?
A surname of German origin meaning someone from a toll or customs house. 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 Zollman (0.27 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 common is the surname Zollman?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Zollman on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.