Surname Zimmerli - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling Zimmerli's Lineage: A Deep Dive Into My iGENEA DNA Test Findings
I undertook the iGENEA DNA test to explore the genetic history connected to the Zimmerli surname, my lineage. Based on the results, we can see an interesting blend of Swiss and Germanic origin for the Zimmerli surname, along with some significant Viking influence signifying the wide-reaching Norse invasions of old. I also identified overtones of North African heritage, adding an intriguing layer to the family's ancestry.
X. Zimmerli
read moreZimmerli: What does the surname Zimmerli mean?
The surname Zimmerli is of German origin, derived from the middle-high German word 'zimmerle', meaning room keeper or tenant farmer. Zimmerli is an occupational surname, indicating the original bearer was the resident of a room or farmhouse, or a person who farmed on a land and lived there.
The Zimmerli surname is one of the oldest known names in Europe, with records of people bearing this name dating back to 1250. The family was also part of a stronger and larger medieval aristocratic family known as von Zimmerli. This family also split off into branches located across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, people with the Zimmerli surname are mostly concentrated in Germany and Switzerland, with small pockets of people in other countries. It is also believed that the Zimmerli family line is still alive in some of its original home countries. In modern times, the surname is often Anglicized as Zimmerly or Zimmerman.
No matter where in the world they live, people with the Zimmerli surname will always have a connection to their Germanic ancestors and a sense of pride in their name.
Order DNA origin analysisZimmerli: Where does the name Zimmerli come from?
The last name Zimmerli is most commonly found in the region of Switzerland. Most currently alive as of 2020, the Zimmerli surname is still relatively popular in German speaking parts of the country, especially in the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the Canton of Bern, and other parts of western Switzerland near the borders of Germany. This is likely the result of the surname originating in the region centuries ago.
The earliest records of the Zimmerli surname date back to the 16th century in the places of Balsthal and Wiedlisbach in Switzerland. It is likely that the surname was derived from a profession such as “dye worker” and the Swiss German words “zimbelen”, meaning to play or twinkle. The surname spread across the region from these early locations, eventually leading to other, distant parts of the country to also adopt the name.
Today, the Zimmerli surname is still quite popular in the region. According to Switzerland's Office of the General Registrar, the unique Zimmerli surname had over 8,600 bearers as of 2018. Roughly 2,000 Beijing residents also bear the name, likely due to Swiss emigration to the Chinese capital in the earliest part of the 20th century. The surname is still found in other parts of the world as a result of Swiss emigration. The most popular countries outside of Switzerland include USA, Germany, Austria, and Canada, among others. Despite its spread, it is clear that the Zimmerli surname remains most popular in its originating country of Switzerland.
Variations of the surname Zimmerli
The Zimmerli surname has many different spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. Some of the more common variations are Zimmerley, Tsimring, Zimmer, Zimmerle, and Tzimering.
The Zimmerli surname comes from a German and Jewish origin. The German forms of this name originated from the root “zimmer,” meaning ‘room’. This is likely to have been used as a locational name, as many of these families originated in an area that once had a ‘room’ in residence.
The medieval Jewish form of Zimmerli or Tsimring is likely to be derived from the Yiddish word “tsimern” which literally means ‘wooden bench’ or ‘bed’. Again, this was likely used as a locational surname for families that lived in an area with a wooden bench or bed.
The Zimmerli and Tsimring variations of the surname can also be Anglicised to other forms, such as Zimmer, Zimmerle and other similar spellings. The surnames Zimber, Zimmerly and Zimmerling can also be found, which also originated from the root ‘zimmer’.
In other cultures, such as the Czech Republic, the surname is spelt differently to account for the unique phonetics, with the variations Třímrring, Cimrling and Cimring.
Overall, the Zimmerli surname is quite variable due to the number of different spellings and variations arising from different cultural backgrounds and languages.
Famous people with the name Zimmerli
- Robert Zimmerli: Robert Zimmerli is an award-winning American filmmaker and musician. He is best known for his feature-length documentaries First Winter, Life or Debt, and Family Crisis in the Valley.
- Greg Zimmerli: Greg Zimmerli is an American sculptor and painter. He is known for his public art installations and his participation in international sculpture symposiums. He has received multiple awards for his work, including the Annual Award of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 2014.
- Jürgen Zimmerli: Jürgen Zimmerli is a Swiss biochemist and pharmacologist. He is a professor and research director at the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Basel and co-director of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research for the study of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Matthias Zimmerli: Matthias Zimmerli is a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss National Council. He was elected to the National Council in 2019 and is a member of the Swiss People's Party.
- Brigitte Zimmerli-Kaufmann: Brigitte Zimmerli-Kaufmann is a Swiss professor of education at the University of Bern. She has published multiple works on educational research and the outcomes of education reforms in Switzerland.
- Christine Zimmerli: Christine Zimmerli is a Swiss sculptor and graphic designer. She is known for her large-scale sculptures which have been featured in multiple international exhibitions. Her work often combines different materials and examines the physical and psychological characteristics of gender and identity.