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

Zacharias, 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 Zacharias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zacharias in America

Zacharias is the 8641st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zacharias surname appeared 3,805 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Zacharias.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zacharias 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 Zacharias

The surname Zacharias has its origins in the ancient Greek language, derived from the Hebrew name "Zechariah" which means "the Lord remembers." This name was popular among the Jewish people and later adopted by early Christians.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Zacharias can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Europe, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of Eastern Europe. It was initially used as a patronymic surname, indicating the name of the father or an ancestor.

In medieval times, the surname Zacharias was found in various historical records and documents, such as parish registers, tax rolls, and legal proceedings. One notable mention is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Zacharias is listed among the tenants of King William the Conqueror in Gloucestershire, England.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Zacharias gained prominence in various academic and artistic circles. One notable figure was Gregorius Zacharias (1460-1536), a German humanist scholar and professor at the University of Leipzig, known for his contributions to the study of classical literature.

In the 17th century, Zacharias Janssen (1585-1638), a Dutch spectacle-maker, is credited with the invention of the first compound microscope, which revolutionized the field of scientific observation and research.

Another prominent individual was Zacharias Ursinus (1534-1583), a German theologian and one of the primary authors of the Heidelberg Catechism, a influential document in the Reformed Protestant tradition.

During the 18th century, Zacharias Winther (1718-1784) was a Danish poet and playwright who made significant contributions to the literary scene of his time, known for his satirical works and comedies.

In the 19th century, Zacharias Topelius (1818-1898), a Finnish author and journalist, gained recognition for his historical novels and children's literature, which played a crucial role in shaping Finnish national identity.

As the surname Zacharias spread across different regions and cultures, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Zacharias, Zachariah, Zacharyas, and Sacharias, reflecting local linguistic adaptations and preferences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zacharias

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

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 Zacharias 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 Zacharias 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 Zacharias was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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