Surname Zeman - Meaning and Origin
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Zeman: What does the surname Zeman mean?
The last name Zeman is of Czech origin and is thought to come from the word "zeman," which means "farmer." It is believed to have been adopted by people living in rural areas, signifying their social and economic position as landowners. This surname is most commonly found in the countries of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.
The Zeman surname can also be found in other places such as the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In these countries, the name is believed to have been adopted by immigrants to the respective countries.
In terms of genealogical record, the earliest Zeman on record is Henry Zeman who was born in Bavaria in the 15th century. The Zeman family history is closely linked to the south-western portions of the Czech Republic, where many members of the family were prominent landowners and members of the gentry in the 1700s.
Although not widespread, the Zeman name is becoming more commonplace over time due to a combination of immigrants to different countries and a rise in population in the regions where the name was historically prevalent. Ultimately, the Zeman surname is a testament to the agricultural history of its birthplace, signifying its social and economic standing many centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisZeman: Where does the name Zeman come from?
The last name Zeman is sourced from the Czech language and is most notably seen within Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the Czech Republic. It is the second most common last name within this region. It is also seen in large numbers across former Czechoslovakia countries such as Slovakia and Serbia.
Outside of Europe, the last name is not as common; however, it has refuged to the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. In the United States, the majority of Zemans live in California, followed by Illinois, Texas, and New York. The first Zemans in America immigrated during the 1880s and settled in cities such as New York City, Pittsburgh, and Chicago; however, many of them have since moved to regions such as the West Coast (for example, California) and the South (for example, Texas).
Over the last two decades, Zemans have also started to move to the UK, where they primarily reside in London. According to records, the first Zeman family in the UK lived in London in the 1990s. It is also possible to find Zemans in other parts of the world such as Brazil and Argentina.
Given its geographic distribution, it does not appear as though the last name Zeman is particularly common worldwide; therefore, it is likely to be more difficult to find. Within the countries listed above, however, it is likely to be much easier to come across the surname Zeman.
Variations of the surname Zeman
The surname Zeman has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variants include Zeeman, Zeemann, Zemann, and Zimmons. Spellings include Zayman, Zemanek, Zinman, and Zmon.
Surnames of the same origin include Czeman, Czech, Csomann, Samann, and Seman. These surnames originated in the Czech Republic. The Czech language is closely related to Polish and Slovak, so other surnames of similar origin may include the Polish Zyman and the Slovak Zezom.
The name Zeman is a patronymic, meaning it originated from the first name of an ancestor. It is derived from the name Zemek or Zemko, which is in turn a nickname for Zeman, which comes from the word “zem”, meaning “land”. The zemcan suffix was also used for descendants of noble families, meaning this surname most likely had noble roots.
For many of its spellings, the origin of the Zeman surname is not certain. It is believed to date back to the early 14th century in Moravia, part of the modern-day Czech Republic, when the Hapsburgs came to power. It is also possible the surname has German origins, considering the large number of German speakers living in the area in the period.
The modern-day spelling of the surname is often used in Slovakia and Poland, while the German version is common in the US. In many cases, the spelling may be different depending on the area in which the surname originated.
Famous people with the name Zeman
- David Zeman: Professional Soccer Player from the Czech Republic
- Lubomír Žemánek: Professor of Eco-Informatics at the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- Karel Zeman: Czech Animator, Film Director and Special Effects Artist
- Petr Zeman: Ice Hockey Goalie from the Czech Republic
- Vaclav Zeman: Former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
- David Zemanek: Former Czech Volleyball Coach
- Petr Zeman: Czech Actor
- Michael Zeman: Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Producer, Editor, and Actor
- Mariana Zemanová: Czech Television and Radio Host
- Karol Zemanová: Former Slovak National Ice Hockey Player