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

Zussman, 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 Zussman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zussman in America

Zussman is the 91981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zussman surname appeared 200 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 Zussman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zussman 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 Zussman

The surname Zussman has its origins in the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe. The name is primarily derived from the Yiddish word "zuss," which means "sweet" or "gentle," combined with the German suffix "man," translating to "man" or "person." This creates a surname that likely denotes a person with a sweet or gentle nature. Linguistic experts trace the surname back to medieval Jewish communities in Germany and Poland, dating as far back as the 12th and 13th centuries.

The name Zussman appears in various historical records from these regions. In Jewish communities, surnames were often assigned based on an individual's characteristics or occupations, and the name Zussman likely followed this tradition. One early recorded mention of the name was in a 13th-century document from the Jewish community in Cologne, Germany, marking one of the initial appearances in written form.

Among the earliest known individuals with the surname is Rabbi Zalman Zussman, a respected Jewish scholar from 16th-century Poland, born around 1510 and died in 1580. His works contributed significantly to Jewish thought and legal discourse of his time. The surname then proliferates in historical records, appearing in community registers, tax documents, and synagogal lists.

By the 18th century, the Zussman name had migrated to other parts of Europe, including Lithuania and Ukraine. One notable figure is Abraham Zussman, a merchant and philanthropist from Vilnius, born in 1748 and died in 1810. His contributions to the local Jewish community were well-documented, and his family continued to hold prominence in the area.

Another distinguished individual was Leon Zussman, a poet and writer from Odessa, born in 1825 and died in 1890. His literary works, often written in Yiddish, captured the essence of Jewish life in eastern Europe, contributing greatly to the cultural tapestry of his time.

In modern times, though still maintaining historical connections, not much has changed in the structural composition of the surname, although migration and diaspora led to various spellings such as Zusman or Zisman. One notable person from the early 20th century is David Zussman, an influential figure in the field of economics, born in 1895 and died in 1973. His academic works influenced economic policies in pre-World War II Europe.

Lastly, in the artistic sphere, Miriam Zussman, born in 1901 and died in 1965, was a well-regarded painter whose works were exhibited widely in Europe and America, showcasing the cultural richness and diversity of the Jewish community.

Throughout history, the surname Zussman has been carried by numerous individuals who have contributed to their fields and communities, reflecting a heritage that values intellectual, cultural, and social contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zussman

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

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

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

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