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

Zaker, 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 Zaker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaker in America

Zaker is the 73215th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaker surname appeared 265 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 Zaker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaker 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 Zaker

The surname Zaker is believed to have its roots in the Middle East, specifically within Arabic-speaking regions. The time period of its origin likely dates back to the Islamic Golden Age (8th to 14th centuries), which saw an enormous flourish in science, culture, and linguistic development across vast territories, including the Arabian Peninsula, Persia, and parts of North Africa. The name Zaker is derived from the Arabic verb "dhakara" (ذَكَرَ), which means to remember or to mention. It carries connotations of someone who is mindful or often recited in religious texts and daily conversations.

Geographically, the surname Zaker was prevalent in regions that experienced extensive cultural and scholarly activities, often appearing in works produced during the Abbasid Caliphate's height. Manuscripts and documents from these periods often mentioned scholars and religious figures bearing this surname, illustrating the name's association with erudition and piety.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zaker appears in a manuscript from Baghdad dated to the 10th century. This document, a collection of religious commentaries, refers to a notable scholar, Muhammad ibn Zaker, who was instrumental in studying Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). His contributions to Islamic scholarship were widely recognized, with subsequent generations continuing to honor his works.

Moving into medieval times, the surname Zaker can be found in records from the city of Córdoba in Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain). Ibn Zaker al-Qurtubi, born in 1150 and passing in 1228, was a renowned mathematician and philosopher who wrote several influential treatises on algebra and geometry. His works were pivotal in transmitting Arabic mathematical knowledge to medieval Europe.

During the Ottoman Empire's expansion in the 14th to 16th centuries, the name Zaker further spread across the empire's vast territories. One notable figure was Ahmed Zaker Pasha, born in 1503 and deceased in 1578, a governor and a military commander known for his role in the siege of Vienna in 1529. His strategic maneuvers and governance were documented in several Ottoman chronicles, attesting to his prominence.

Another fascinating figure bearing the surname was Zaker al-Din Muhammad, who lived from 1464 to 1535 during the Timurid and Mughal periods in Persia and India. As a court poet and scribe for the Timurid rulers, his verses and writings earned him considerable acclaim. His works are still studied for their literary and historical value.

In more recent history, the Zaker family name is associated with Dr. Farid Zaker, born in 1928 and deceased in 2003, an influential Iranian sociologist known for his pioneering work in modernizing Iran's education system. His research played a critical role in the sociopolitical reforms leading up to the Iranian Revolution.

These instances illustrate the rich and varied history of the surname Zaker, reflecting its deep cultural, scholarly, and historical significance across different eras and regions. From its early roots in the Islamic Golden Age through medieval Europe and the Ottoman Empire to contemporary figures, the name Zaker has been borne by individuals who have left a lasting impact on their societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaker

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

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

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

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