2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zakian
A surname of Armenian origin, possibly derived from a location or denoting someone hailing from a particular region.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Zakian. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zakian surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Zakian in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zakian, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.9%) and Hispanic (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zakian
The surname Zakian originates from Armenia, an ancient country located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. The name is of Armenian origin, and its earliest usage can be traced back to the Middle Ages. During this period, Armenia's unique culture and language were particularly insulated due to geographical and political factors, which allowed surnames like Zakian to retain their distinct characteristics over centuries.
Etymologically, the surname Zakian is derived from the Armenian word "Zak," which means "birth" or "child," combined with the suffix "ian," which is often used in Armenian surnames to denote "son of" or "descendant of." Hence, the name Zakian generally translates to "son of Zak" or "descendant of Zak," indicating a lineage or familial connection. Similar spellings and variations of the surname may include Zakyan or Zakhian, each adhering closely to the original meaning.
Historical references to the surname can be found in various Armenian manuscripts and records from the medieval period. Armenian historical texts often recorded the names of nobility and prominent families, some of whom bore the surname Zakian. These records, though sparse due to centuries of invasions and turmoil in the region, provide glimpses into the lives of individuals and families who carried this name.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname appears in a 15th-century manuscript, where a certain Aram Zakian was mentioned. Aram Zakian was noted for his contributions to the local community in the capital city of Yerevan. Another significant figure is Levon Zakian, a bishop in the Armenian Apostolic Church during the 17th century, who played a crucial role in the church's activities and was known for his scholarly works.
Fast forward to the 19th century, another notable individual is Hovhannes Zakian, born in 1824 and died in 1886, who was a prominent philosopher and poet contributing significantly to Armenian literature. His works often reflected the nationalistic fervor of the time and are still studied today for their literary and historical value.
Another Zakian of note is Miriam Zakian, born in 1912, an accomplished painter whose works were influenced by the Armenian landscapes and folklore. Her pieces often depicted the cultural vibrancy and rich history of Armenia, earning her acclaim both in her homeland and abroad. She continued to create and exhibit her works until her death in 1983.
In the early 20th century, the name appears in international records, with individuals such as Arman Zakian emigrating to the United States. Born in 1901, Arman became a successful businessman in New York, significantly contributing to the diaspora's community and cultural heritage.
Finally, another prominent individual is Vartan Zakian, a political activist born in 1889. He was influential in the early 20th-century Armenian independence movement and played a vital role in various political activities aimed at securing autonomy for Armenia. His efforts remain celebrated in Armenian history, and he passed away in 1956.
Through the centuries, the surname Zakian has been borne by many individuals who contributed to their communities and fields of interest, each adding to the rich tapestry of Armenian history and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zakian
Among Census respondents with the surname Zakian, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.9%) and Hispanic (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Zakian bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zakian surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.5% · 98
- Two or more races6.9% · 8
- Hispanic or Latino5.2% · 6
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zakian
Zakian appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#129,047
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 132
+19 bearers (+16.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,736 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
-16 bearers (-12.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,981 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #129,047 | 132 | 0.04 | +19 bearers (+16.8%) | Up 7,736 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | -16 bearers (-12.1%) | Down 15,981 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zakian surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #129,047 | #145,028 | -12.4% |
| Count | 132 | 116 | -12.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zakian bearers went from 132 to 116 (-12.1% change). The surname moved down 15,981 positions in the national ranking, going from #129,047 to #145,028.
FAQ
Zakian surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zakian?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Zakian. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Zakian?
Zakian ranks #145,028 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 116 people with the surname Zakian. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zakian.
Has Zakian become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zakian went from 132 recorded bearers to 116. That is a decrease of 16 (-12.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #129,047 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Zakian?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zakian, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.9%) and Hispanic (5.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zakian in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.5% (98 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zakian appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.5%), Two or More Races (6.9%), Hispanic (5.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zakian (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zakian mean?
A surname of Armenian origin, possibly derived from a location or denoting someone hailing from a particular region. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zakian (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Zakian?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.