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

Zahara, 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 Zahara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zahara in America

Zahara is the 62903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zahara surname appeared 318 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 Zahara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zahara 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 Zahara

The surname Zahara traces its origins to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically Spain. Derived from the Arabic word "zahr," meaning "flower" or "blossoming," the name has roots in the period of Al-Andalus, when much of Spain was under Muslim rule from the 8th to the 15th centuries. This influence is evident in several place names within Spain carrying similar etymological roots, such as Zahara de los Atunes in the province of Cádiz and Zahara de la Sierra in the province of Cádiz as well.

Historical references to the surname Zahara appear in ancient records and manuscripts dating back to the Reconquista, a period from the 8th to the 15th century during which Christian kingdoms aimed to reclaim territories from Muslim rule. An example of an old manuscript mentioning the name is the Libro de Repartimientos, records detailing the distribution of lands among Christian settlers following the capture of a Muslim-held town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zahara was in the late 13th century, where it appeared in regional tax records from the Kingdom of Castile. Subsequent records saw the name frequently in the regions around Andalusia, an area characterized by the convergence of Christian and Muslim cultures.

A notable person bearing this surname was Diego de Zahara, born around 1453, who was a navigator known for his contributions to the voyages exploring the Atlantic. Another prominent figure was Isabel de Zahara, a noblewoman born in 1489, who played a significant role during the transition period of the Reconquista.

During the 16th century, the name was carried by Alonso de Zahara, a writer whose works contributed to the Golden Age of Spanish literature. In the 17th century, Maria de Zahara, born in 1607, became renowned for her contributions to the field of botany, documenting numerous plant species endemic to the Andalusian region.

Another historical figure includes Felipe de Zahara, born in 1712, who was an influential military leader during the War of Spanish Succession. His efforts in several key battles are well-documented in military archives.

While the surname Zahara is less common today, it remains a testament to the rich multicultural history of Spain, encapsulating centuries of Moorish influence, Reconquista struggles, and cultural blending that defined the Iberian Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zahara

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zahara, 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!