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

Zakharov, 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 Zakharov surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zakharov in America

Zakharov is the 60196th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zakharov surname appeared 335 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 Zakharov.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zakharov 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 Zakharov

The surname Zakharov has its origins in Russia and dates back to the medieval period. It emerged primarily in the regions of Eastern Europe, notably within what is now modern-day Russia and Ukraine. The root of this surname can be traced to the given name Zakhar, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Zechariah, meaning "the Lord has remembered." Over time, the given name Zakhar became a common basis for various surnames, as was typical in Slavic cultures where patronymic naming conventions were widely practiced.

The suffix "-ov" is a patronymic ending in Russian, indicating "son of" or "descendant of." Consequently, Zakharov essentially means "son of Zakhar." This style of surname formation was customary in Russia, starting from the 14th or 15th century, when the adoption of familial names became standard practice among the nobility and eventually filtered down to the peasantry.

Historically, the surname Zakharov appeared in various records during the Tsardom of Russia and continued to be documented in the Russian Empire. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the Census of 1649, a registry ordered by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, which lists several families bearing the surname Zakharov. This indicates that the name was established among the populace by the mid-17th century.

Among the notable figures with the surname Zakharov is Matvei Zakharov (1898-1972), a distinguished Soviet military commander who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces and was a Marshal of the Soviet Union. His leadership during World War II and influence in post-war military strategies left a lasting mark on Soviet military history.

Another prominent personality is Nikolai Zakharov (1824-1886), a Russian painter known for his landscape and historical scene artworks. His paintings received critical acclaim and were displayed in esteemed galleries, contributing significantly to the Russian art scene of the 19th century.

Additionally, Nikolay Zakharov rose to prominence as a Russian footballer and manager born in 1940. His contributions to the sport, both on and off the field, have been recognized in Russian football history, highlighting his influential role in developing the sport in the country.

Valentina Zakharova (1936-2010), a ballet dancer of much renown, captivated audiences with her performances during her tenure with the Bolshoi Ballet. Her grace and skill earned her accolades and positioned her as a prominent figure in the world of ballet.

Lastly, Alexander Zakharov (1873-1951), a professor and historian, is remembered for his extensive research and publications on Russian history. His work provided deep insights into Russia’s past, making significant contributions to the academic field.

The Zakharov surname has a rich historical tapestry woven with contributions from various spheres such as the military, arts, sports, and academia, each adding to the legacy and recognition of this distinguished name across generations. This progression mirrors the broader socio-cultural evolution within Russia from the medieval ages to the modern era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zakharov

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

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

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

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