PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: What is the Origin of the Surname Zera

Penny1211 — Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:55 pm

Author: Penny1211

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:55 pm

Hello Beth,
Thanks for your efforts, but I also know that the name Zera itself is a Hebrew word meaning seed. So you can see my confusion.
Ze-ra - זרע

Ze-ra' is a Hebrew word that is usually translated into English as SEED. The root is ז. ר. ע and, somewhat surprisingly perhaps, carries the concept of "throwing from a distance" (Hirsch). The noun which comes from this root (pronounced ze-ra) is often used in the Torah to mean offspring; (in)famously of both the snake and of Eve in Genesis 2, as well as the more familiar seed/offspring in the story of the patriarch, Abraham (Genesis 9-22).
Zera'
Root: zayin.resh.ayin ז.ר.ע

When looking for the origination it keeps bringing me back to the tribe of Judah. I know there are names such as Zera in Poland as there are in other countries, but what I am looking for is the root of the name. Polish or is it Jewish? I see no solid evidence of Polish other than there are those that live there and have for generations, but we have generations of Zera's in America and my grandfather being one that traveled over from not Poland, but England. Thank you for your help, Penny

Re: What is the Origin of the Surname Zera

Elzbieta Porteneuve — Sun Feb 09, 2014 7:13 pm

Author: Elzbieta Porteneuve

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 7:13 pm

Penny1211 wrote:

Does anyone know where the surname Zera comes from? From what research I have conducted most of the population of Poland was Jewish, however it does not mean that everyone was Jewish. I only have my grandfathers name to go on and his name was Aleksander Zera and he was born in Warsaw Poland. I have been told that his father's name may have been Bronislaw Zera. Thanks...

Hi Penny,

There is a number of Zera in Poland today:
https://nazwiska-polskie.pl/Zera

The etymology given in stankiewicze
http://www.stankiewicze.com/index.php?kat=44&sub=762
is
Zera - od żer, ze staropolskiego żyr ‘pokarm zwierzęcy’; też może od imion złożonych typu Żyrosław, Żyromir.

"żer" translates into "food, feeding, soustenance"
In the second hypothesis the name "żer" comes from very old Polish first names Żyrosław, Żyromir

The statement "most of the population of Poland was Jewish" is totaly incaccurate.
The numbers before WWII were something like 36 millions total population, 6 millions Jewish.

Best,
Elzbieta

What is the Origin of the Surname Zera

Penny1211 — Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:52 pm

Author: Penny1211

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:52 pm

Does anyone know where the surname Zera comes from? From what research I have conducted most of the population of Poland was Jewish, however it does not mean that everyone was Jewish. I only have my grandfathers name to go on and his name was Aleksander Zera and he was born in Warsaw Poland. I have been told that his father's name may have been Bronislaw Zera. Thanks...