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

Zagarella, 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 Zagarella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zagarella in America

Zagarella is the 88685th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zagarella surname appeared 209 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 Zagarella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zagarella 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 Zagarella

The surname Zagarella likely originates from Italy, with its roots traced back to the southern regions, particularly Sicily. The name is believed to derive from the Italian word "zagare," which refers to orange blossoms, combined with the Italian diminutive suffix "-ella." This suggests that the name may have originally described someone who lived near or worked in an area abundant with orange trees, or possibly a person known for their association with such a fragrant and beautiful flower.

Historical references to the name Zagarella can be found in various old records and manuscripts. One notable mention is from a 14th-century Sicilian document, where a "Giovanni Zagarella" was listed as a landowner in Palermo. This early reference indicates that the name had already established a presence in Sicily by this time. Additionally, the name appears in various parish records from the 15th and 16th centuries, reflecting the common practice of recording births, marriages, and deaths among the local populace.

The earliest recorded example of the surname dates back to 1345, with a "Pietro Zagarella" mentioned in the context of a legal dispute over agricultural land in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. This early mention underscores the historical significance of the name in the agricultural and land-owning communities of southern Italy. Additionally, Zagarella was noted in the 16th-century census records of Messina, another key Sicilian city, illustrating the distribution and prevalence of the name on the island.

A notable figure with the surname Zagarella is Francesco Zagarella, born in 1589, who was a respected merchant in Naples. His commercial activities included trade with other Mediterranean ports, highlighting the name's association with business and trade during the Renaissance period. Another significant person is Maria Zagarella, born in 1734, who gained local fame in Catania for her charitable work and contributions to the local church.

The presence of the surname in various Italian locales, alongside the minor variations in spelling like Zagarilla and Zagarella, reflect the regional linguistic influences and the evolution of surnames over time. Historical figures like Antonio Zagarella, born in 1792, a renowned painter from Calabria, and Lucia Zagarella, born in 1820, a poet known for her works in the Sicilian dialect, further attest to the spread and cultural impact of the surname across Italy.

Overall, the surname Zagarella carries a rich history tied to the agricultural, commercial, and cultural fabric of southern Italy. Creating a tapestry of stories and notable individuals, the name remains a testament to the regions and professions that shaped it throughout centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zagarella

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

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

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

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