Explore the Family Name Zimmermann
The meaning of Zimmermann
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a carpenter, Middle High German zimberman (a compound of zimber, zim(m)er ‘timber, wood’ + man ‘man’), German Zimmermann. Some characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Otto, Erwin, Hans, Fritz, Gerhard, Hermann, Klaus, Gerd, Manfred, Wolfgang, Bernhard.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zimmermann in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Zimmermann has seen a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. The rank of Zimmermann dropped from 4784 in 2000 to 4942 in 2010, marking a decrease of 3.3 percent. However, contrary to the drop in rank, the actual count of people with the Zimmermann surname increased by 5.68 percent, from 6740 in 2000 to 7123 in 2010. This indicates that while the name has become somewhat less popular relative to other surnames, the number of individuals with the surname Zimmermann has actually grown.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,784 | #4,942 | -3.3% |
| Count | 6,740 | 7,123 | 5.68% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.5 | 2.41 | -3.6% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zimmermann
As for the ethnic identity associated with the Zimmermann surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. Predominantly, individuals identifying as White held the surname with a proportion of 95.58 percent in 2000 which decreased slightly to 93.77 percent in 2010. The census also showed an increase in the percentage of people with the Zimmermann surname who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, and Hispanic, with the most noteworthy change being a 68.57 percent increase in those identifying as Two or more races. There was also an emergence of individuals identifying as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native holding the Zimmermann surname, where previously in 2000, there were none reported.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.58% | 93.77% | -1.89% |
| Hispanic | 2.3% | 3.33% | 44.78% |
| Two or More Races | 0.7% | 1.18% | 68.57% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.76% | 0.91% | 19.74% |
| Black | 0% | 0.66% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.15% | 0% |
Zimmermann 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 Zimmermann is French & German, which comprises 42.7% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (24.6%) and Eastern European (11.5%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Indigenous American.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 42.7% |
| British & Irish | 24.6% |
| Eastern European | 11.5% |
| Other | 21.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Zimmermann
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 Zimmermann have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Germany.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 57.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 57.60% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 57.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 57.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 56.90% |
What Zimmermann 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 Zimmermann is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L2 and I-Z58, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Weber, Schenk, Wagner, Becker, Keller, Schmidt, Hoffman, Mueller, Meier, Miller.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zimmermann surname are: H1, J1c, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your 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 Zimmermann 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.
"Zimmermann" Surname 33.0%
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.
"Zimmermann" Surname 30.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zimmermann" Surname 22.8%
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.
"Zimmermann" Surname 18.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zimmermann?
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 Zimmermann are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition