NameCensus.

UK surname

Zimmerman

A German occupational surname referring to a carpenter, derived from the German words "zimmer" (room) and "mann" (man).

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Zimmerman surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 414, ranked #11,574, up from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Methven and Middlesborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Hillside and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zimmerman is 424 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 193.6%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

414

2016, ranked #11,574

Peak year

2015

424 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Zimmerman had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016, ranked #11,574.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 392 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Zimmerman surname distribution map

The map shows where the Zimmerman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Zimmerman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zimmerman over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 23 #29,205
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 172 #16,663
1901 historical 392 #9,623
1911 historical 316 #11,031
1997 modern 312 #13,182
1998 modern 304 #13,773
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 329 #13,090
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 327 #13,046
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 357 #12,194
2006 modern 349 #12,473
2007 modern 356 #12,437
2008 modern 359 #12,459
2009 modern 360 #12,688
2010 modern 375 #12,568
2011 modern 380 #12,326
2012 modern 406 #11,606
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 420 #11,567
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 414 #11,574

Geography

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Where Zimmermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Methven, Middlesborough and Beckenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Hillside, Tendring, Westminster and Leeds. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Methven Perth
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 Beckenham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 006 Dudley
2 Hillside Angus
3 Tendring 002 Tendring
4 Westminster 018 Westminster
5 Leeds 012 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zimmerman

These lists show first names that appear often with the Zimmerman surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Zimmerman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Zimmerman, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Zimmerman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Zimmerman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Zimmerman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Zimmerman is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Zimmerman falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Zimmerman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Zimmerman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Zimmerman

The surname Zimmerman is of German origin, derived from the German word "Zimmermann," which means "carpenter" or "woodworker." It dates back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century, when surnames first became common in Germany.

The name is believed to have originated in various regions of Germany, as carpentry was a widespread trade during that time period. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents and records from various German states and principalities.

One notable early reference to the name Zimmerman can be found in the Schwäbisches Wörterbuch (Swabian Dictionary), a comprehensive dictionary of the Swabian dialect, published in the 19th century. It includes entries for "Zimmermann" and its variants, indicating the longstanding use of the name in the Swabian region of southwestern Germany.

Another early mention of the name Zimmerman appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis (Diplomatic Code of Brandenburg), a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 13th century. This reference suggests that the name was also present in the northern regions of Germany during the medieval period.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Zimmerman was Hans Zimmerman, a woodcarver and sculptor who lived in Nuremberg, Germany, in the late 15th century (c. 1450-1525). His intricate woodcarvings can still be found in churches and museums across Germany.

Another notable figure with the surname Zimmerman was Johann Georg Zimmermann (1728-1795), a Swiss philosophical writer and physician who was highly influential during the Age of Enlightenment. His works, such as "On National Pride" and "On Solitude," explored themes of nationalism, individualism, and the human condition.

In the realm of music, Hans Zimmermann (c. 1518-1565) was a German composer and organist from Leipzig, known for his contributions to the development of the Protestant church music tradition in Germany during the Reformation era.

The surname Zimmerman has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Zimmermannsfeld, Zimmermannshaus, and Zimmermannsruh, which likely derived their names from the presence of carpenters or woodworkers in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Zimmerman include Johann Jakob Zimmermann (1644-1693), a Swiss mathematician and astronomer, and Reinhard Zimmermann (1815-1893), a German historian and philologist who specialized in the study of medieval literature and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Zimmerman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Zimmerman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 36 Zimmermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 36 2.64x
Lancashire 23 1.42x
Perthshire 15 24.47x
Surrey 15 2.25x
Essex 10 3.71x
Warwickshire 9 2.61x
Yorkshire 9 0.67x
Lanarkshire 6 1.36x
Lincolnshire 6 2.75x
Durham 3 0.74x
Kent 3 0.64x
Derbyshire 1 0.47x
Devon 1 0.35x
Rutland 1 9.97x
Suffolk 1 0.60x
Sussex 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Withington in Lancashire leads with 11 Zimmermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 210.73x.

Place Total Index
Withington 11 210.73x
Islington London 10 7.56x
Edgbaston 8 74.91x
Woodford 8 262.30x
Methven 7 777.78x
Battersea 6 11.94x
Manthorpe Cum Little 6 359.28x
Barony 5 4.47x
Holy Trinity 5 15.36x
Poulton Barre 5 271.74x
Spitalfields London 5 48.69x
Bethnal Green London 4 6.74x
Dunning 4 519.48x
Lambeth 4 3.36x
St Botolph Aldgate 4 215.05x
West Derby 4 8.44x
Camberwell 3 3.44x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 17.06x
Liverpool 3 3.05x
Sculcoates 3 13.99x
Abernethy 2 250.00x
Hackney London 2 2.61x
Paddington London 2 3.98x
Whitechapel London 2 14.86x
Birmingham 1 0.87x
Bridewell Precinct 1 909.09x
Chelsea London 1 2.43x
Fulham London 1 5.05x
Govan 1 0.92x
Great Saxham 1 909.09x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 58.82x
Huddersfield 1 5.07x
Kensington London 1 1.32x
Kinnoull 1 62.11x
Lee 1 14.79x
Litchurch 1 11.63x
Long Ditton 1 91.74x
Margate St John Baptist 1 11.72x
Perth East Church 1 17.30x
Plymouth Charles The 1 7.99x
Preston 1 769.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.64x
St Andrew Holborn 1 21.60x
St George Hanover 1 5.61x
St George In East 1 10.76x
Tonbridge 1 5.95x
Waltham Holy Cross 1 39.68x
West Ham 1 1.68x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Zimmerman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Eliza 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Julia 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Victoria 2
Adele 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Brina 1
Carolina 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Elsie 1
Ernestine 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eve 1
Florance 1
Henrietta 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Liza 1
Lottie 1
Lousie 1
Margaret 1
Margaretta 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Pauline 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1
Thersah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Zimmerman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 7
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Jacob 2
Karl 2
Otto 2
Robert 2
A. 1
Adolp 1
Albert 1
Aron 1
Arthur 1
Band 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
Franciz 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Guster 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Hyman 1
Israel 1
Jno. 1
Johan 1
John 1
Kadish 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Moss 1
Richard 1
Simon 1
Theo. 1
Tobie 1
Walter 1
Wenzel 1
Wilhelm 1
Willy 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Zimmerman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Zimmerman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Zimmerman surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Zimmerman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 414 in 2016. That gives Zimmerman a modern rank of #11,574.

What does the Zimmerman surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a carpenter, derived from the German words "zimmer" (room) and "mann" (man).

What does the Zimmerman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Zimmerman bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.