Zerzan is a Bohemian surname.
Several people named Zerzan in the U.S. are descended from Joseph W. Zerzan, who was born In Ujezd, Litomysle, Bohemia April 14, 1848, and died Feb. 20, 1915 in Schuyler, Nebraska, USA. In 1864 he immigrated with his parents to the U.S. from the Czech Republic and lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he worked for a railroad for two years. In 1868 he moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he worked as a clerk in a grocery store with his future brother-in-law Joseph Dvorak. In November 1870 he married Mary Shonka who was also from Bohemia. In 1871 Joseph they moved to West Point, Nebraska where he operated a general merchandise store. In 1876 he moved to Schuyler, Colfax County, Nebraska where he farmed and taught school. A year later he was employed by Jellison & Miller, dealers in hardware and machinery in Schuyler. Later with John Nieman he purchased the business, operating it for ten years. He then devoted his time to real estate, loans and the insurance business. He was Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska C.S.P.S. He spoke, read and wrote Bohemian, English, and German. His six children were: Josephine, married to Charles S. Safarik, Schuyler; Mary K. married to M. J. Bouse, David City; Emma, married to L. Stopka, Chicago; Edward W. Zerzan, (who was a mayor of Schuyler); Dr. George F. Zerzan, Holyrood, Kansas, and Charles J. Zerzan Sr. married to Margaret Mahony, Portland, Oregon.