Zebulon

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Zebulon

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Zebulon comes from a Hebrew name that probably meant “Exultation,” although Leah, in the Bible, claimed it meant “to dwell” from “zabel.”

History:
Zebulon is another example of a fairly minor Biblical name revived by 16th century English Puritans. The Puritans brought the name to the future United States, where it remained in use for the next several centuries. By the 19th century, the name Zebulon had become very rare, except for a brief period after the Civil War, when Southern parents wished to honor their politician Zebulon Vance (1834-1894).

The short form Zeb remained more common until the early 20th century.

Pronunciation: zeb-yoo-lon.

Diminutives: Zeb.

Alternates: Zabulon.

Famous Bearers:
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Zebulon Reed Brockway (1827-1920)
American penal reformer.

Miscellaneous:
Zebulon Montgomery Pike (1779-1813)
American explorer.

Places:
Zebulon
North Carolina.

Political Figures:
Zebulon Butler (1731-1961)
American colonial leader.
Zebulon Baird Vance (1830-1894)
American Confederate politician.
William Zebulon Foster (1881-1961)
American Communist.
Zebulon Weaver (1872-1948)
American politician.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.004 % of males named Zebulon

Popularity of Zebulon:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1890: N/A
1891: 842nd most popular.
1892-1977: N/A
1978: 896th most popular.
1979: 775th most popular.
1980: 924th most popular.
1981-1983: N/A
1984: 973rd most popular.
1985-2005: N/A

Popularity of Zeb:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1875: 919th most popular.
1880: 600th most popular.
1881: 563rd most popular.
1882: 611th most popular.
1883: 497th most popular.
1884: 570th most popular.
1885: N/A
1886: 694th most popular.
1887: 679th most popular.
1888: 484th most popular.
1889: 722nd most popular.
1890: 739th most popular.
1891: 700th most popular.
1892: 861st most popular.
1893-1894: N/A
1895: 640th most popular.
1896: 593rd most popular.
1897-1898: N/A
1899: 786th most popular.
1900-1901: N/A
1902: 862nd most popular.
1903: 656th most popular.
1904: 724th most popular.
1905: 918th most popular.
1906-1908: N/A
1909: 842nd most popular.
1910-2004: N/A

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)