This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Zema family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Zema Family History

Zema Surname Meaning

Italian:: from the feminine form of the personal name Zemo or from a variant of the female personal name Gemma.

Alternatively, from the medieval and Calabrian Greek word zema ‘broth’.

This word comes from classical Greek zeō ‘to boil’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Zema family from?

You can see how Zema families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zema family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most Zema families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 6 Zema families living in Missouri. This was about 32% of all the recorded Zema's in USA. Missouri and 1 other state had the highest population of Zema families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zema surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Zema ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Steno were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zema. 26% of Zema men worked as a Laborer and 50% of Zema women worked as a Steno. Some less common occupations for Americans named Zema were Truck Driver and Waitress.

View Census Data for Zema | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    26%
  • Baker
    12%
  • Clerk
    12%
  • Truck Driver
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Steno
    50%
  • Waitress
    50%

What Zema family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Zema. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zema census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Zema

Passenger Lists

There are 300 immigration records available for the last name Zema. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Zema immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 215 military records available for the last name Zema. For the veterans among your Zema ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zema military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zema family history

Discover More

What is the average Zema lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Zema life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1994. The average life expectancy for Zema in 1944 was 24, and 88 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zema

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Zema ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Zema family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial