Surname Zeamer - Meaning and Origin
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Zeamer: What does the surname Zeamer mean?
The last name Zeamer is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German terms “tsamer” or “zemer” which mean “zeal”, “enthusiasm” or “intensity”. The words indicate that individuals with this surname are those willing to do whatever necessary to achieve excellence in whatever endeavor they set out to accomplish.
For example, achieving a high success rate in business, climbing the career ladder, or even striving to be a better parent or spouse are qualities that people with this name likely value. They may take their goals seriously and be willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve what they deem is worthwhile and necessary.
Because of their intensity and enthusiasm, they can be very ambitious and self-motivated. Highly organized and able to plan, the Zeamer name demonstrates that the individual wears their heart on their sleeve and is never shy about expressing their commitments and passions when it comes to their life. In essence, when looking at the name Zeamer, an individual can expect to find individuals with a great deal of passion and enthusiasm for the goals they set out to achieve.
Order DNA origin analysisZeamer: Where does the name Zeamer come from?
The last name Zeamer is most common in the United States, and particularly in Pennsylvania. According to research from the U.S. Census Bureau, Zeamer is the 2,621st most popular last name in the United States, with fewer than 3,000 people having the name. Most of them can be found in the state of Pennsylvania, where nearly 2,000 people have the surname.
It is likely that the majority of Zeamers (or Zeemers) living in the U.S. today are descendants of the original Zeamer family, who first settled in Berks County, PA in the late 1700s. Several branches of the Zeamer family tree eventually sprung up in other states such as New Jersey, Michigan, and Ohio.
The surname Zeamer is derived from the Old German word “zemer” which translates to “farmer” or “agriculturist.” As such, the Zeamers have a long history of working in agricultural fields and on farms all across Pennsylvania. Today, the Zeamer name continues to be associated with farming and agriculture in the state, though many of the last name’s holders are involved in different lines of work.
Variations of the surname Zeamer
The surname Zeamer is an Americanized spelling of the German surname Ziemmer. Historically, the surname has also been spelled Zimerman, Szaemmer, and Szimern. These spellings were used to represent the same surname in 19th century German records, with the spelling variations likely due to both dialectical differences between German speaking regions and the relative illiteracy of the common folk.
The earliest known record of the surname comes from German records in the 13th century. During that time period, the spelling originated as Zimmer, which is a topographical surname. It was derived from the Old Germanic word “zimber,” which means “timber” or “wood.” Hence, it was most commonly used to describe someone who lived in or near a forest. During the 14th century, the spelling was changed to Zemmer, which is the earliest recorded use of the surname. By the 16th century, most records had changed the spelling to either Zemmer or Simmer.
In the late 19th century, when a majority of immigrants from Germanic regions settled in the United States, the spelling of the surname changed to the Americanized variant, Zeamer. This form of the surname is the most common spelling of the name today.
The surname has many variants and spellings, from the original Old Germanic form of “zimber” to the modern spelling of Zeamer. It is a testament to the long history of the name and its travels over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Zeamer
- Ray Zeamer Jr.: American World War II fighter pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters for his actions in the Pacific Theatre.
- Edward L. Zeamer Jr.: American aeronautical engineer who largely invented the concepts of low-level formation flying for modern jetfighters.
- E.J. Zeamer: American aviator who made a number of record-breaking flights in the late 1900s.
- Les Zeamer: American automotive engineer who helped develop the first automatic transmissions for cars.
- John M. Zeamer: American zoologist and researcher who helped create the "Zeamer Rats" breed of laboratory rats used for medical research.
- Ed Zeamer: American political advisor, best known for assisting then-Vice President George H.W. Bush on foreign policy issues.
- Mary Zeamer: American artist and sculptor best known for her figurines and paintings depicting rural life in the early 1900s.
- Robert Zeamer: American diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Thailand from 1985-1989.
- Gary Zeamer: American golfer who competed professionally on the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour in the late 1970s and 80s.
- Ric Zeamer: American stand-up comedian who has won numerous awards for his performances.