Zaino last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zaino

An Italian surname derived from the Italian word "zaino" meaning "backpack" or "knapsack."

Zaino, 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 Zaino surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaino in America

Zaino is the 29447th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaino surname appeared 802 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 Zaino.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaino 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 29447 28730 2.46%
Count 802 780 2.78%
Proportion per 100k 0.27 0.29 -7.14%

The history of the last name Zaino

The surname Zaino originates from Italy and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Predominantly found in the regions of Sicily and Southern Italy, the name has deep roots in the Italian language and culture. It is derived from the Italian word zaino, meaning "saddle" or "backpack," which has implications of someone who might have been a saddler or some form of leather worker. This trade-specific surname suggests that early bearers of the name were involved in crafting, repairing, or selling saddles or backpacks.

One of the earliest mentions of the surname Zaino can be found in historical records from the 13th century. Manuscripts from this time period have documented individuals with variations of the surname such as Zaynu and Zayno, indicating the fluid nature of spelling in medieval records. These early documents often linked the name to merchants and traders who traveled extensively, carrying goods in saddlebags and backpacks, which supports the occupational origin of the name.

In the 14th century, Pietro Zaino, a notable figure in Palermo, held substantial influence as a merchant and contributed to the city's economic growth. His presence is solidified in records from 1351, where he is mentioned as a benefactor of local guilds. Another significant individual was Lorenzo Zaino, born in 1423, who became known for his literary works and poetry, reflecting the cultural vibrancy of Renaissance Italy.

The surname spread over the centuries, and another notable bearer was Giovanni Zaino, born in Naples in 1502. A well-known artist, Giovanni contributed to the artistic heritage of the region with his frescoes and religious paintings, which remain preserved in various churches and galleries.

In the 17th century, records from 1698 point to Emilia Zaino, who played a pivotal role in the resistance against foreign invaders in Sicily. Her leadership in mobilizing local forces marked her as a remarkable figure in regional history. Moving into the early 19th century, Francesco Zaino, born in 1801, emerged as a prominent politician in Southern Italy and was instrumental during the unification process of Italy.

The surname Zaino is not only a testament to various individuals' achievements but also a reflection of the diverse socioeconomic activities in which they engaged. From artisans and merchants to artists and resistance leaders, the bearers of the surname have contributed immensely to Italian heritage across different eras.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaino

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

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 Zaino was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.51% 766
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.87% 7
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.62% 13
Hispanic Origin 1.62% 13

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 Zaino has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 95.51% 96.54% -1.07%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.87% 0.77% 12.20%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.62% 1.15% 33.94%
Hispanic 1.62% 1.41% 13.86%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Zaino last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zaino-surname-popularity/.

"Zaino last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zaino-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Zaino last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zaino-surname-popularity/.

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