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Surname Zellmer - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'Z'

Zellmer: What does the surname Zellmer mean?

The last name Zellmer is a German surname of noble origin. It is derived from the German words "zelle" (cell) and "meister" (master). It is thought to have originally been an occupational surname referring to a jailer or cell keeper, someone in charge of a prison or dungeon. The word "zellmeister" was also used to refer to certain important positions in communities, such as a city or town mayor.

Over time, people with the Zellmer surname developed various branches across Germany, many of which moved to America in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Zellmer surname is most commonly associated with German and American immigrants who settled in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Their name is also quite common in the Midwestern and Southern states, where they are known to have settled in the 19th century.

Today, the Zellmer surname is rather widespread, appearing in multiple countries across the globe. It's understood to be the 61,753rd most common name in the world, with an estimated population of 25,000 individuals who bear the name. The Zellmers of today are generally a close-knit family, deeply entrenched in their local communities. Believed to have noble origins, the Zellmers are proud of their heritage but continually strive to look ahead and progress in life.

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Zellmer: Where does the name Zellmer come from?

The last name Zellmer is primarily found in Germany, the United States, and Canada. In Germany, a large number of Zellmers trace their ancestry back to the historic Grand Duchy of Baden and the Rhineland-Palatinate regions. In the United States, the Zellmer surname can be found mainly in the midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. This reflects the origins of many of these Zellmers who emigrated to the Midwest in the 19th century to pursue new business opportunities.

Within the United States, Zellmers are now scattered throughout the country. They can be found in most states, although their visibility is highest in the midwestern and eastern states where they originally settled. There are also networks of Zellmer families in South America, Australia, and New Zealand, many of whom trace their family history back to German Zellmers.

In Canada, the last name Zellmer has been present since the early 20th century, when many Canadian immigrants emigrated from Germany. The highest concentration of Zellmers can be found in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Overall, the last name Zellmer is most common in Germany, the United States, and Canada, but can be found scattered throughout many countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Zellmer

The surname Zellmer is a German and Dutch surname derived from a toponym meaning ‘cellar man’, taken from Middle Low German 'Zellemer'. Variants, spellings, and other possible names of the same origin include Zehlemer, Zellmaier, Zeller, Zellerman, Selmaier, Sellmer, Sellmaier, Zelmaier, Celmaier, Selmeier, Sellmeier, Zelmer, and Celmer.

The German version of the name Zellmer is most widely distributed and is found in parts of Germany to be a more common variant of this name, whereas the Dutch version, Zellemer, is a bit more rare. The variants and spellings are mainly used in various parts of mainland Europe such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, but can also be found in other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, and other areas outside of Europe with a strong presence of German and Dutch immigrants.

The overall meaning of the surname Zellmer is someone who is a cellarman, or one who used to work in and around cellars and storerooms in or around farms and villages. It is unclear how old this surname is as a personal name, although the name seems to have originated in the early Middle Ages, likely with one original family, in Germany.

This name is said to have been passed down from one generation to the next, and is still very much alive and popular in various countries today. In the United States, Zellmer has become a more anglicized name, but is still closely related to its original German spelling and meanings.

Famous people with the name Zellmer

  • Lauren Zellmer, American actress and voice artist
  • Bill Zellmer, former CEO of USG Corporation
  • Thomas Zellmer, former president of the U.S. Olympic Committee
  • Dan Zellmer, professional baseball player
  • Ron Zellmer, former president of the AFL-CIO
  • Paul Zellmer, author and public speaker
  • Gary Zellmer, historian and author
  • Ralph Zellmer, former mayor of Greendale, Wisconsin
  • Andrew Zellmer, Olympian long-distance runner
  • David Zellmer, professor of law at Marquette University Law School

Other surnames

ZellmannZellmayerZellmeierZellmeyer

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