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

Zalazar, 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 Zalazar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zalazar in America

Zalazar is the 35764th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zalazar surname appeared 628 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 Zalazar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zalazar 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 Zalazar

The surname Zalazar finds its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, most prominently in the regions that are now modern-day Spain and Portugal, during the medieval period. The name is believed to have developed in the Province of Salamanca in Spain, with its earliest forms likely appearing around the 12th to 13th century. The name bears similarity to the Spanish word "salazar," which means an old hall or mansion, and this suggests that the surname may be associated with a geographical location or a prominent building in the area.

The name Zalazar is likely a variation of Salazar, a more widely known surname that is of Basque origin, from the words "sala," meaning hall, and "tzar," meaning old. As the family names transitioned across regions and languages, variations like Zalazar emerged. Historical references to similar names appear in many medieval manuscripts, church records, and land grants.

One of the earliest documented examples of the surname in written records appears in the early 14th century. Documents from Toledo in 1326 reference a family known as de Zalazar, lending credence to the origin theory tied to a locality or significant estate.

In the 15th century, Baltasar Zalazar is mentioned as a minor noble who served in various military campaigns on the Iberian Peninsula. Born around 1450, he was a noted figure in regional conflicts and his name appears in several heraldic records from the time. Details of his life help trace the spread of the surname to various regions of Spain and Portugal.

Moving forward to the 17th century, Juan de Zalazar was an influential estate owner in the region of Castilla-La Mancha. Born in 1603, his legacy includes several legal documents and land grants that bear his surname, showcasing the prominence of the Zalazar family in the local nobility. His death in 1671 marked the continuation of the family's influence through his descendants.

In more recent historical records, José María Zalazar, born in 1855, was a notable figure in the literary circles of Madrid. His poetry and essays, often published in regional newspapers, contributed to Spanish literature during the late 19th century. He continued to publish until his death in 1913, leaving behind a legacy of written works that offer insight into the cultural backdrop of his time.

The Zalazar name has also been carried to the Americas, with settlers moving during the periods of Spanish colonization. Among them was Francisco Zalazar, born in 1880 in Seville, who emigrated to Argentina in 1905, where he became a prominent businessman and community leader until his death in 1949. His efforts in the local community helped establish schools and community centers, cementing the Zalazar name in South American history.

One more notable individual is Guillermo Zalazar, a 20th-century historian born in Buenos Aires in 1920, whose research focused on the migration patterns and cultural impacts of Spanish immigrants in the New World. His work remains a staple in academia, particularly his book published in 1972 titled "Echoes of Spain: The Zalazar Legacy," which explores the extensive lineage and historical significance of his surname until his passing in 1985.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zalazar

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

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

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

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