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

Zolman, 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 Zolman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zolman in America

Zolman is the 34916th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zolman surname appeared 646 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 Zolman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zolman 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 Zolman

The surname Zolman likely originates from Central Europe, specifically within the regions that are now Germany and the Netherlands. The name appears to have medieval Germanic roots, derived from the Old High German words zol, meaning toll or tax, and mann, meaning man. This etymology suggests that the name was originally occupational, referring to a tollman or tax collector.

Historical records show various spellings of the surname, including Zollmann, Zollman, and Zohlman. These variations indicate geographical and linguistic differences as the name spread across different regions in Europe. The earliest documented instances of the surname date back to the late medieval period, with mentions in tax and land records, although exact references are sparse.

One of the first notable occurrences of the name Zolman is found in a 15th-century tax ledger from the city of Frankfurt. A certain Heinrich Zollmann is listed as a toll collector during this period, which aligns with the occupational origin of the name. Heinrich is believed to have been born around 1420 and died sometime after 1480.

In the late 16th century, Hans Zolman was recorded in Groningen, the Netherlands. Hans, born around 1560 and documented until about 1620, was a merchant, which indicates a possible shift from the original occupational role of his ancestors. This geographical movement also reflects the economic and cultural exchanges between the Germanic and Dutch regions during this period.

By the 17th century, the surname had spread further, finding its way into English records. A notable example is Wilhelm Zolman, who emigrated to England in the mid-1600s. Born in 1610 in the Rhineland region of Germany, Wilhelm settled in London around 1650, where he worked as a craftsman until his death in 1675.

In the 18th century, records from Pennsylvania in the United States note the arrival of Johann Zolman. Born in 1705 in Bavaria, Johann immigrated to the American colonies in 1740. His records indicate he owned land and worked as a farmer until his death in 1780. This migration is part of the larger wave of German-speaking immigrants to the Americas during that time.

By the early 19th century, the surname had become established in various parts of Europe and North America. A notable figure during this time was Friedrich Zolman, a German revolutionary born in 1785 who participated in the 1848 revolutions across Europe. Friedrich's role in advocating for democratic reforms and his subsequent exile to the United States reflect the broader social and political movements of the period.

These historical examples highlight the evolution of the surname Zolman from its medieval origins as an occupational name to its spread across different regions and its adaptation by various notable individuals throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zolman

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

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

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

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