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Surname Zinßer - Meaning and Origin

all surnames with 'Z'

Zinßer: What does the surname Zinßer mean?

The surname Zinßer is of German origin. It is most likely derived from the Middle High German zin(n)er, which referred to someone that worked with tin. As such, it may have first been used as an occupational surname for a blacksmith or tinworker.

Alternatively, the surname could also have evolved from an ethnic name meaning ‘a person from Zinzilite’, a place in the old Teutonic principality of Vippacensi.

In modern times, the surname is found mainly throughout Germany and the surrounding countries. It is also relatively common in the United States, where it has been present since the late 19th century, with many of those bearing the name being of German-Jewish descent.

Aside from tinworking and blacksmithing, the surname may also have been inspired by a house or estate named Zinßer, from the German and Middle High German terms for a bright, open or sunny house. As a result, many individuals with the surname may have at one point been landowners, or have descended from those of landed estates.

Overall, the surname Zinßer generally signifies someone with a connection to a German-Jewish background, though it could also have been inspired by an individual’s profession or point of origin.

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Zinßer: Where does the name Zinßer come from?

The last name Zinßer is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also quite common in the United States, where the German immigrant population is significant.

The earliest known bearers of this surname lived in the small Bavarian village of Zinßer near Coburg. During the 19th century, many members of the Zinßer family immigrated to the United States, mainly to New York and Pennsylvania.

Today, Zinßer is a fairly common surname in Germany, with over 6,800 people with this name living there. It is especially popular around the rural regions of Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Nordrhein-Westphalia and Lower Franconia.

In the United States, however, Zinßer is more uncommon, with just over 1,000 people having this surname. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most common German-origin surnames in the country. It is concentrated in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where early immigrants settled.

Generally, the Zinßer surname is prevalent in households of German descent, especially in the US and Germany. In the US, most individuals with this surname are related through a common ancestor, although some may have adopted the surname out of respect for their German heritage.

Variations of the surname Zinßer

The surname Zinßer is an Alamannian naming pattern, with the root form being “Zinz-.” It is often spelled as ‘Zinsser,’ but may also appear as ‘Zinser,’ ‘Zintz,’ ‘Zinzer,’ ‘Zincker’ or ‘Zinck.’ Depending on family lineages, the spelling can take on slight variations such as ‘Zinßer,’ ‘Zimßer,’ ‘Zincker,’ ‘Zindl’ or ‘Zintzle.’

Variant and spelling variations of Zinßer have developed due to Anglicization and regional dialect shifts. The name may appear as ‘Zinßer’ or ‘Zinßner’ in Austria, ‘Zennser’ in Switzerland, ‘Zinßir’ in Luxembourg or ‘Zintsz’ in Germany. In some cases, variants of this surname have become Anglicized to ‘Sinser’ or ‘Sims.’

Surnames with close origins to Zinßer include ‘Zimmer,’ ‘Zimmerman,’ ‘Zimmermann’ or ‘Zimmerlich.’ These surnames are of German origin and derived from the Old German word ‘zimbar,’ which means ‘room’ or ‘outside room.’ In some cases, variations are attributed to ‘zimbarstub’ or ‘roommaker,’ which could mean a person responsible for making the room or constructing a room. Other surnames of similar origin include ‘Zimpel,’ ‘Zumsteg,’ ‘Zombeck’ and ‘Zumstein.’

To conclude, the surname Zinßer is an Alamannian naming pattern and can appear with minor spelling variations or Anglicized versions. Related surnames of similar origin are Zimmer, Zimmerman, Zimmermann and Zimmerlich as well as Zimpel, Zumsteg, Zombeck and Zumstein.

Famous people with the name Zinßer

  • Hans-Hermann Zinßer: Scientist and author who won the Alexander von Humboldt Prize in 1972
  • Anton Zinßer: German naturalist, professor, and writer
  • Christian Zinßer: German poet
  • Hermann Zinßer: German jurist and politician
  • Merle Zinßer: German mathematician
  • Hans Zinßer: American bacteriologist, medical scientist, and educator
  • Paul Zinßer: German theater director
  • Olga Zinßer: German-American feminist
  • Alfred Zinßer: German actor and director
  • Albert Zinßer: American World War I soldier and Medal of Honor recipient

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