The Zimmerman surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 83,265 people carried this name — #379 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 3,540 people counted. That is up 3% from 80,944 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Zimmerman surname

As a surname in the United Kingdom

Harrison classes it as a German name: ‘Carpenter’.

From Henry Harrison, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary, vol. II (London: The Morland Press, 1918), p. 317 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 183 people named Zimmerman live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in City of Buenos Aires.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

City of Buenos Aires 64
Buenos Aires Province 48
Misiones 40
Tucumán 17
Salta 14

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Poland’s population register

105 people named Zimmerman have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 188 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 10 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Silesian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Silesian 24
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 20
Subcarpathian 18
Lubusz 14
Opole 11
Masovian 9
Lower Silesian 3
Pomeranian 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 46 people named Zimmerman.

10 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 22 départements, most often Seine-Saint-Denis.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 10
Seine-Saint-Denis 4
Lot 3
Paris 2
Nord 2
Yvelines 2
Marne 2
Somme 2
Tarn-et-Garonne 2

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

258 people named Zimmerman is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 258

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In the first U.S. census, 1790

65 families named Zimmerman, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 368 people lived in those households, 5.7 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 5 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 44
South Carolina 10
Maryland 6
Virginia 4
New York 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 270 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Zimmerman in American newspapers,
1900–1931.

Newspaper page from The Salt Lake Herald carrying the name Zimmerman
The Salt Lake Herald 1900-11-20
Newspaper page from The Salt Lake Herald-Republican carrying the name Zimmerman
The Salt Lake Herald-Republican 1910-10-24
Newspaper page from The Milwaukee Leader carrying the name Zimmerman
The Milwaukee Leader 1931-10-16

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 360,885 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Zimmerman in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1990s.

5,558 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Zimmerman. The most, 950, date from the 1930s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 2.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 1,285
New South Wales 1,261
South Australia 1,252
Queensland 1,184
Western Australia 282
Tasmania 177
ACT (Canberra) 60
Northern Territory 2

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Zimmerman.

Who carried it

People named Zimmerman,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmermann
    Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmermann 1785–1853 · composer
  • Samuel Zimmerman
    Samuel Zimmerman 1815–1857 · businessperson
  • Anna Zimmerman
    Anna Zimmerman 1829–1907
  • Jacob Zimmerman
    Jacob Zimmerman 1831–1912 · politician
  • John C. Zimmerman, Sr.
    John C. Zimmerman, Sr. 1835–1935 · politician

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 252 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Zimmerman,
in the records of 10 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States8,735 records

8,735 records of the Zimmerman name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 3,046
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 2,862
  • Other U.S. records 2,827
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Terry Zimmerman

    Born 1948; from New York, New York. U.S. Army, indirect fire infantryman; killed in action 1968 in Quang Tin, South Vietnam. Buried at Long Island National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Iden K. Zimmerman

    Born 1902 in Washington. Enlisted 1942 at Tacoma; yardman from Clark County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1967, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Walter E. Zimmerman

    Born 1897 in Oregon. Enlisted 1942 at Portland; lumberman from Washington County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1991, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 8,735 records for Zimmerman in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · New York State, Open NY (police and firefighter memorial rolls). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain).

Netherlands2,799 records

2,799 records of the Zimmerman name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1,389
  • Dutch population registers 1,300
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 110
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joannes Josephus Zimmerman

    Married in 1823 in Gendringen; carpenter. Died 1864 in Varsselder, aged 73.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johannes Zimmerman

    Married in 1899 in 's-Gravenhage; skipper. Died 1950 in Berlicum.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Antonius Damianus Zimmerman

    Married in 1906 in Druten; skipper. Died 1958 in Rotterdam, aged 84.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,799 records for Zimmerman in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Australia186 records

186 records of the Zimmerman name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 83
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 54
  • Other Australian records 49
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Thos Zimmerman

    Arrived in Victoria in 1886 aboard the Orient, aged 40; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Giedum Zimmerman

    Arrived in Queensland in 1910 aboard the Osterley, aged 10.

    Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Conrad Zimmerman

    Musician of Richmond, Victoria; died 1923.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 186 records for Zimmerman in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada67 records

67 records of the Zimmerman name in Canada
  • City of Waterloo (Ontario) cemetery records 15
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 13
  • Other Canadian records 39
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Gottlieb Zimmerman

    Buried in 2001 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 90.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Bessie May Zimmerman

    Buried in 1940 at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, aged 65.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Caroline Zimmerman

    Died 1971; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 67 records for Zimmerman in Canada.

Counts: Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand21 records

21 records of the Zimmerman name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 13
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 5
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Annie Maria Zimmerman

    Died 1945, aged 87; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Henry James Lyall Zimmerman

    Died 1988, aged 75; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 21 records for Zimmerman in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France21 records

21 records of the Zimmerman name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Guy Georges Zimmerman

    Born 1928 in Essonnes (Yvelines); died 1975 in Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Laure Albertine Zimmerman

    Born 1911 in Roubaix; died 1992 in Roubaix (Nord).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 21 records for Zimmerman in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway19 records

19 records of the Zimmerman name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Harald Zimmerman

    Census of 1910: Torvgate, Bodø; farmhand, born 1895 in Bodø.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Erika Zimmerman

    Census of 1910: Hystadveien, Sandefjord; trader, born 1858 in Sandefjord.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 19 records for Zimmerman in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Belgium8 records

8 records of the Zimmerman name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Celestina Joanna Zimmerman

    Born 1920 in Aalst. Married in 1941 in Aalst; "snijdster".

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Marie Zimmerman

    Died 1907 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Zimmerman in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Germany4 records

4 records of the Zimmerman name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Alois Zimmerman

    From Eutingen, Horb. Reported wounded in the Württemberg casualty list of 24 November 1914 (Infantry Regiment No. 126).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 1 of 4 records for Zimmerman in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Finland2 records

2 records of the Zimmerman name in Finland Finland's war dead, 1914–1922
  1. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Otto Armas Zimmerman

    Born 1899; labourer. Died in 1918 in Uusikylä, one of the dead of Finland's wars of 1914–1922.

    Kansallisarkisto, via Sotasurmasampo (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Zimmerman in Finland.

Counts: Kansallisarkisto, via Sotasurmasampo (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Zimmerman.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Zimmerman is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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