2010
#149,395
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zacapala
A surname originating from Zacapala, a village in Guatemala.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Zacapala. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zacapala surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Zacapala in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zacapala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Black (1.8%) and White (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zacapala
The surname Zacapala has roots in Mesoamerica, particularly in the region that is now Mexico. This name is believed to have originated among the indigenous people of Mexico, with its earliest traces likely in the pre-Columbian period. The name Zacapala is derived from native Nahuatl language elements, with "zacatl" meaning grass or hay and "pala" possibly referring to water or a place rich in a certain characteristic. Thus, the surname might imply a place abundant with grass or water.
Historical references to the surname Zacapala can be traced back to colonial records during the Spanish conquest and settlement of the Americas. One of the earliest mentions is found in church registers from the late 1500s, documenting early colonial governance and settlement patterns in areas such as modern-day Puebla and Oaxaca. The spelling of the name has remained relatively consistent, preserving its indigenous roots despite Spanish colonial influence.
In the year 1602, records indicate a native chieftain named Itzamatul Zacapala who played a significant role in local resistance against Spanish incursions. Unfortunately, much about his life remains undocumented beyond his brief mention in these chronicles. Another notable figure was Diego Zacapala, who in 1715 was recorded as one of the few indigenous noblemen given a minor administrative role within the Spanish colonial structure, reflecting the complex interactions between the indigenous population and the colonizers.
The 19th century saw a resurgence in indigenous identity, and within this context, individuals like Juan Zacapala became notable. Born in 1835, Juan was a record keeper who meticulously documented oral traditions and histories of his people, which provided invaluable insight into the cultural practices long before written records existed. His contributions were significant in preserving the Nahuatl heritage for future generations.
In more recent historical contexts, Leonor Zacapala, born in 1892 and who died in 1945, emerged as an influential educator and advocate for indigenous rights in Mexico. She wrote several articles and pamphlets advocating for the preservation of indigenous languages and cultures, making her a pivotal figure in the broader movement for cultural preservation in the early 20th century.
Finally, during the Mexican Revolution, an individual named Enrique Zacapala played a key role. He was born in 1878 and was a local leader who fought for land reforms benefiting indigenous communities. His participation in the revolution helped in bringing attention to the plight and demands of indigenous peoples in the wider political landscape of Mexico.
These individuals reflect the enduring legacy and cultural significance of the Zacapala surname, demonstrating its deep roots and historical presence in Mexico's complex history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zacapala
Among Census respondents with the surname Zacapala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Black (1.8%) and White (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zacapala bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zacapala surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino96.4% · 108
- Black or African American1.8% · 2
- White0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zacapala
Zacapala appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+2 bearers (+1.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,441 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #149,395 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.8%) | Up 1,441 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zacapala surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #149,395 | #147,954 | 1.0% |
| Count | 110 | 112 | 1.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zacapala bearers went from 110 to 112 (+1.8% change). The surname moved up 1,441 positions in the national ranking, going from #149,395 to #147,954.
FAQ
Zacapala surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zacapala?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Zacapala. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Zacapala?
Zacapala ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Zacapala. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zacapala.
Has Zacapala become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zacapala went from 110 recorded bearers to 112. That is an increase of 2 (+1.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #149,395 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Zacapala?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zacapala, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 96.4%. The next largest groups are Black (1.8%) and White (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zacapala in the 2020 Census, accounting for 96.4% (108 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zacapala appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (96.4%), Black (1.8%), White (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zacapala (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zacapala mean?
A surname originating from Zacapala, a village in Guatemala. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zacapala (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Zacapala?
You can see how many people have the last name Zacapala on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.