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

Zaffiro, 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 Zaffiro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaffiro in America

Zaffiro is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaffiro surname appeared 194 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 Zaffiro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaffiro 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 Zaffiro

The surname Zaffiro has its origins in Italy, specifically from the southern region of Sicily. The name dates back to the medieval period, with the earliest known records appearing in the 12th century. Deriving from the Italian word "zaffiro," meaning sapphire, the surname likely began as a nickname or descriptor for someone with striking blue eyes or perhaps someone associated with the gemstone industry. The Italian word itself can be traced back to the Latin word "sapphirus" and the Greek word "sappheiros," which have similar meanings.

One of the earliest mentionable references to the surname Zaffiro can be found in Sicilian archives from the 1300s. These manuscripts often detailed notary acts and land transactions, showcasing individuals with the surname involved in various civic activities. For instance, a Domenico Zaffiro was noted as a landowner in Palermo in 1374. Historical records from this period indicate that the Zaffiro family was well-regarded and played an influential role in local governance and trade.

In the 15th century, another noteworthy figure was Stefano Zaffiro, a merchant from Syracuse, whose business dealings included trading precious stones and jewelry. Born in 1421 and passing in 1487, Stefano’s documented transactions provide insight into the lucrative trade routes between Sicily and mainland Italy, as well as other parts of Europe.

The surname also appears in ecclesiastical records. In 1565, Antonio Zaffiro became a notable cleric in the Roman Catholic Church, known for his work in promoting literacy among the laity. His contributions to religious education and charitable work were recorded in church annals, helping to solidify the Zaffiro name in historical accounts of the period.

Moving into the Enlightenment period, Giacomo Zaffiro, an Italian philosopher born in 1698, became renowned for his writings on humanism and natural philosophy. Giacomo, who lived until 1763, corresponded with prominent thinkers of his time and was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of Milan. His published works and personal letters provide valuable insight into the intellectual climate of 18th-century Italy.

In the 19th century, Cesare Zaffiro emerged as a notable figure within Italian politics and law, born in 1832 and active until his death in 1891. Cesare's legal expertise and advocacy for social reforms were instrumental during Italy's unification process. Historical documents and legal transcriptions from that era frequently mention his efforts in drafting new legislation and his role within the shaping of the modern Italian state.

The surname Zaffiro, with its rich history, has thus traversed various areas of public life, enriching the cultural and historical tapestries of Italy from the medieval period to the modern era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaffiro

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

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

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

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