2000
#49,671
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 397
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.15
Very Rare Last name
Zaffino
A surname from Italian meaning "saffron", possibly in reference to a profession historically associated with that spice or dye.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 521 Americans carry the last name Zaffino. That puts it at #49,914 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.15 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 657,878 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zaffino 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
521
1 in 657,878
Census rank
#49,914
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
454
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 454 bearers of the surname Zaffino in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.15 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 49914th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zaffino, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Black (1.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zaffino
The surname Zaffino originates from Italy, specifically from the southern regions such as Calabria. The earliest records suggest the name began to emerge around the 15th century. The surname likely derives from the Italian word “zaffiro,” which translates to “sapphire” in English, indicating a possible connection to someone who worked with this gemstone or possessed striking qualities compared to the precious stone.
During this period, southern Italy experienced influences from various cultures, including Greek, Norman, and Spanish, which could have contributed to the evolution of this surname. Calabria was particularly noted for its unique dialects and linguistic adaptations, resulting in names that often carried regional specifics.
The name Zaffino first appeared in written records in the 16th century. One early reference can be found in a baptismal register from 1572 in the town of Rizziconi in Calabria, where a Giovanni Zaffino is listed. This indicates the presence and establishment of the Zaffino family in the area during this time.
Another notable historical figure bearing this surname is Lorenzo Zaffino, born in 1625 and known for his contributions to regional agricultural practices in Calabria. His methods were documented in various local manuscripts, preserving his legacy in agricultural improvements.
In the realm of art, Antonio Zaffino, who lived from 1740 to 1788, gained prominence. He was an accomplished sculptor whose works included several sculptures in local Calabrian churches. His craftsmanship demonstrated the blend of local and external influences in Calabrian art during the 18th century.
The surname also features in 19th-century emigration records. Enrico Zaffino, born in 1834, migrated to Argentina around 1860, as documented in the immigration logs in Buenos Aires. This migration reflects the broader trend of southern Italians seeking new opportunities in the Americas during the 19th century.
In the 20th century, Francesco Zaffino, born in 1905, became a notable figure for his participation in the Italian Resistance during World War II. His efforts contributed to the liberation of Italian territories from fascist control, and he is celebrated in local historical texts.
The name Zaffino remains a testament to the rich cultural and historical tapestry of southern Italy. Its bearers have contributed in various fields, from agriculture and art to resistance efforts, making it a surname with significant historical resonance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zaffino
Among Census respondents with the surname Zaffino, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Black (1.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Zaffino 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 Zaffino surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2% · 432
- Two or more races2.2% · 10
- Black or African American1.1% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino1.1% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.2% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zaffino
Zaffino appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#50,106
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 418
+21 bearers (+5.3%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Down 435 places
2020
#49,914
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 454
+36 bearers (+8.6%)
Per 100,000 0.15
Rank movement Up 192 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #49,671 | 397 | 0.15 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #50,106 | 418 | 0.14 | +21 bearers (+5.3%) | Down 435 places |
| 2020 | #49,914 | 454 | 0.15 | +36 bearers (+8.6%) | Up 192 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 Zaffino 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 | #50,106 | #49,914 | 0.4% |
| Count | 418 | 454 | 8.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.14 | 0.15 | 8.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zaffino bearers went from 418 to 454 (+8.6% change). The surname moved up 192 positions in the national ranking, going from #50,106 to #49,914.
FAQ
Zaffino surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zaffino?
Name Census estimates that about 521 living Americans carry the surname Zaffino. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 657,878 residents.
How common is Zaffino?
Zaffino ranks #49,914 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.15 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 454 people with the surname Zaffino. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (521), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.15 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.15 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 Zaffino.
Has Zaffino become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zaffino went from 418 recorded bearers to 454. That is an increase of 36 (+8.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #50,106 to #49,914.
What does the Census say about the background of Zaffino?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zaffino, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.2%) and Black (1.1%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zaffino in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.2% (432 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zaffino appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.2%), Two or More Races (2.2%), Black (1.1%). 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 Zaffino (2000, 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 Zaffino mean?
A surname from Italian meaning "saffron", possibly in reference to a profession historically associated with that spice or dye. 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 Zaffino (0.15 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 have the last name Zaffino?
If you just want to know how many people have the last name Zaffino, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.