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

Zagha, 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 Zagha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zagha in America

Zagha is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zagha surname appeared 102 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 Zagha.

The history of the last name Zagha

The surname Zagha originates from the Middle Eastern region, specifically within the Arab world, with significant historical roots in Palestine. The name's etymology is somewhat obscure but is believed to be derived from Arabic. It bears similarity to the Arabic word "zagh," which translates to "he roared" or "he shouted." This word could metaphorically relate to a heraldic or warrior-like ancestor known for their commanding presence.

Zagha is most likely traced back to ancient Palestine, and its bearers were possibly involved in local governance or trade. Historic records indicate that the family name was prominent in cities such as Nablus and Jerusalem. The earliest instances of the surname Zagha can be found in Ottoman Empire records from the 16th century, wherein individuals bearing the name were noted as landholders and merchants.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Zagha was Yusuf Zagha, who appeared in mid-16th century records in Nablus. Yusuf Zagha was a respected merchant whose transactions in textile trade were documented in Ottoman tax registries. Another figure, Mahmoud Zagha, a scholar from Jerusalem in the early 17th century, was known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and was mentioned in several scholarly manuscripts.

In the 18th century, Abdullah Zagha became a renowned figure in Nablus for his role in local politics and civic administration. His contributions to the community, particularly in the context of urban development, were frequently cited in contemporary municipal records. Moving into the 19th century, Fatima Zagha, born in 1821, was noted for her philanthropic efforts, establishing educational institutions for girls in Jerusalem.

The Zagha name persisted into the 20th century with individuals like Khalil Zagha, born in 1890, who was a prominent teacher and writer. His publications on Palestinian culture and history remain valuable resources for scholars studying the region's past.

Each of these historical figures provided a glimpse into the lives of individuals who carried the Zagha surname, illustrating their integral roles within their communities and their lasting legacies. The history of the name is rich with contributions to trade, politics, education, and scholarship, reflecting a deep connection to the cultural and social fabric of Palestine.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zagha

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

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 Zagha 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!