Find out how popular the last name Tzul is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Tzul.

Tzul, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Tzul surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tzul in America

Tzul is the 36379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tzul surname appeared 615 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tzul.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tzul to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Tzul

The surname Tzul has its origins in the Mayan civilization of Central America, particularly in present-day Guatemala. It is derived from the Mayan word "tz'ul," which means "dog" or "canine." This surname can be traced back to the Classic Period of Mayan history, spanning from around 250 AD to 900 AD.

The name Tzul was likely used to identify individuals or families who were associated with dogs or had a special connection to these animals, perhaps as hunters or dog breeders. It may have also been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who possessed dog-like qualities or characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tzul can be found in the Madrid Codex, a pre-Columbian Maya book from the late 15th or early 16th century. This codex contains hieroglyphic inscriptions that mention individuals with the Tzul surname.

During the Spanish conquest of the Maya territories in the 16th century, many Mayan individuals adopted Spanish surnames, including Tzul. This helped preserve the name's legacy, and it can be found in various colonial records from that period.

Notable individuals with the surname Tzul throughout history include:

1. Yax Tzul (c. 1450 - 1520), a Mayan nobleman and warrior who fought against the Spanish conquistadors during the early stages of the conquest.

2. Maria Tzul (1630 - 1702), a renowned Mayan healer and midwife who practiced traditional medicine in the Guatemalan highlands.

3. Juan Tzul (1785 - 1856), a Mayan farmer and community leader who played a significant role in the resistance against Spanish and Ladino landowners during the Guatemalan peasant revolts of the early 19th century.

4. Pedro Tzul (1892 - 1968), a Mayan artist and sculptor who helped preserve and promote the traditional art and cultural traditions of his people.

5. Rigoberta Menchú Tum (born 1959), a Guatemalan human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has advocated for the rights of indigenous peoples, including those with the Tzul surname.

The surname Tzul continues to be prevalent among the Maya communities of Guatemala, as well as among Mayan diaspora populations in other parts of Central America and beyond. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Mayan people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tzul

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Tzul.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tzul was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Tzul has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Tzul was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tzul, please contact us.

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