Zalasar last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zalasar

A Bosnian surname derived from the Slavic word "zelen" meaning "green".

Zalasar, 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 Zalasar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zalasar in America

Zalasar is the 60960th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zalasar surname appeared 330 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 Zalasar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zalasar 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 60960 75219 -20.94%
Count 330 239 31.99%
Proportion per 100k 0.11 0.09 20.00%

The history of the last name Zalasar

The surname Zalasar has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period, approximately between the 12th and 14th centuries. The name is chiefly found in the regions of Castile and León, areas known for their historical significance in Spanish history. Derived from old Castilian, the name is thought to come from the combination of two words: "sala," meaning hall or house, and "azar," which could mean fort or watchtower. This implies that the name Zalasar may originally have referred to someone who lived near or was responsible for a fortified hall or a grand mansion.

In historical references, the name Zalasar appears sporadically in various ancient documents and scripts. One of the earliest mentions of the surname appears in a 13th-century tax record detailing the inhabitants of the Castilian town of Salas. During the Reconquista, the name appeared in military records documenting the efforts of Christian soldiers reclaiming territories from Moorish control. The surname can also be noted in land grant documents of the same era, rewarded to knights and loyal soldiers for their services.

The earliest recorded example of the name Zalasar is found in a 1274 ecclesiastical manuscript, detailing the lineage of noble families in Castile. Among them, Rodrigo de Zalasar, a knight who played a significant role in the Battle of Navas de Tolosa in 1212, is noted. Rodrigo de Zalasar was born circa 1180 and died around 1230. His descendants were known to have served successive Castilian monarchs, earning various titles and lands.

Another notable figure includes Teresa Fernández de Zalasar, born in 1342 and a prominent lady-in-waiting at the court of King Peter of Castile. She was known for her diplomatic endeavors and played a key role during the internal conflicts that marked Peter's reign. Teresa’s correspondence with various European courts has been preserved, highlighting her influence and the spread of the surname throughout different regions.

In the 15th century, Juan Zalasar, born in 1410, emerges as a significant figure in the annals of Spanish literature. A poet and scholar, Juan's works contributed to the rich tapestry of medieval Spanish poetry. His poems often wove themes of chivalry, and some manuscripts bearing his name can be found in the National Library of Spain.

Moving into the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Francisco de Zalasar was known for his role in the Spanish Armada. Born in 1557 and perished in 1588 during the ill-fated naval campaign against England, Francisco’s service records detail his valor and the ultimate sacrifice he made.

By the 18th century, the surname Zalasar had proliferated further. Maria Antonia Zalasar, born in 1734, became one of Madrid’s most esteemed artists. Her paintings, characterized by their vivid detail and graceful portraiture, earned her accolades and a place in several historical art collections.

Overall, the surname Zalasar has a rich and varied history, originating in medieval Spain and linked to notable figures in military, literary, and artistic circles throughout the centuries. The etymology of the name reflects the historical settings from which these individuals emerged, underlining the enduring legacy of the Zalasar lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zalasar

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

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 Zalasar was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 5.15% 17
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 94.55% 312

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 5.15% 9.21% -56.55%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 94.55% 89.96% 4.98%

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

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

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"Zalasar last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zalasar-surname-popularity/.

"Zalasar last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zalasar-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

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

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