Explore the Family Name Zeman
The meaning of Zeman
Czech and Slovak: status name for a yeoman farmer or small landowner, Czech and Slovak zeman (a derivative of zem ‘land’). This is one of the most common Czech surnames.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zeman in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Zeman has slightly decreased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 7,957th most popular surname, and by 2010, it fell to the 8,572nd position, a change of about -7.73%. The count of individuals with the Zeman surname also saw a slight decrease of -0.39% during this decade, dropping from 3,858 to 3,843. Consequently, the proportion per 100,000 people in the U.S. carrying the Zeman surname fell by -9.09%, from 1.43 to 1.3.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,957 | #8,572 | -7.73% |
| Count | 3,858 | 3,843 | -0.39% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.43 | 1.3 | -9.09% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zeman
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the Zeman surname, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data, there was a notable increase in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native between 2000 and 2010. Specifically, the percentage of Zemans identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 46.77%, Hispanic by 37.04%, Black by 16.67%, and American Indian and Alaskan Native by 69.23%. Conversely, there was a small decrease in those identifying as White by -0.96% and those identifying with two or more races by -6.93%. It should be noted that the vast majority of Zemans identified as White in both census years, making up 96.58% in 2000 and 95.65% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.58% | 95.65% | -0.96% |
| Hispanic | 1.35% | 1.85% | 37.04% |
| Two or More Races | 1.01% | 0.94% | -6.93% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.62% | 0.91% | 46.77% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.26% | 0.44% | 69.23% |
| Black | 0.18% | 0.21% | 16.67% |
Zeman ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Zeman is British & Irish, which comprises 30.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (25.9%) and Eastern European (23.0%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 30.1% |
| French & German | 25.9% |
| Eastern European | 23.0% |
| Other | 21.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Zeman
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Zeman have recent ancestry locations in United Kingdom and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 62.70% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 62.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 62.70% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 62.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 62.70% |
What Zeman haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Zeman is I-M170, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup I-M170 is descended from haplogroup I-M170. Other common haplogroups include R-M405 and R-CTS3402, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Borowski, Wrobel, Neuman, Zack, Zajac, Wargo, Korn, Kozak, Koss, Olszewski.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zeman surname are: H1, N, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins I-M170
Your paternal lineage may be linked to the people of Doggerland
One of the places that was repopulated as the Ice Age waned no longer exists. During the Ice Age and for some time afterward, lower sea levels exposed much of the area that is now covered by the North Sea. Known as "Doggerland," the region must have been occupied by men bearing haplogroup I, because today it is abundant in all of the countries surrounding the North Sea.As the meltwaters of the retreating Ice Age glaciers caused sea levels to rise, the low-lying forests and wetlands of Doggerland gradually became inundated. Doggerland's inhabitants retreated to the higher ground that is now the North Sea coast. I-M170 is especially common today in Scandinavia and is somewhat common in England, Germany and the Netherlands.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Zeman have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Zeman" Surname 29.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Zeman" Surname 20.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zeman" Surname 20.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Zeman" Surname 19.6%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zeman?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Zeman are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition