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

Zambada, 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 Zambada surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zambada in America

Zambada is the 136449th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zambada surname appeared 123 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 Zambada.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zambada 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 Zambada

The surname Zambada originates from the Iberian Peninsula, most likely stemming from regions within Spain. The name appears to have roots in the Basque or Galician language, dating back to the late medieval period. The areas historically tied to this surname are densely wooded, mountainous regions commonly associated with the Basque people in Northern Spain or the coastal, Celtic-influenced areas of Galicia.

Zambada appears to be derived from the combination of old Basque words or possibly Galician words, though the exact linguistic origins remain somewhat obscured due to the complex history and intermingling of cultures in the region. There are similar spellings in old records, such as Sambada or Zambada, suggesting that vowel shifts and orthographic practices of the time influenced its present form.

One of the earliest documented appearances of the name Zambada can be traced back to aljamiado manuscripts in the late 14th century, which often contained the names and genealogies of prominent families in the region. These records indicate the prominence of the Zambada name within local nobility and landholding classes.

Throughout history, several individuals bearing the surname Zambada have achieved notoriety. For instance, in the 17th century, Juan de Zambada y Guzman (1674-1731), a notable Spanish military officer, held considerable sway within the military and political circles of Spain. His contributions to various military campaigns in Europe were well-documented in royal archives.

In the 18th century, María Ana Zambada (1722-1786), a well-known poet and intellectual in Galicia, gained substantial recognition for her works that aligned with the Enlightenment ideals of the time. Her literary contributions were frequently cited in academic circles, leading to a heightened awareness of the Zambada name in scholarly communities.

The 19th century saw Vicente Zambada (1815-1883), a prominent merchant and explorer, who played a significant role in the expansion of Spanish trade routes within Latin America. His efforts in establishing stronger commercial ties between Spain and its colonies are chronicled in numerous historical trade records.

In the early 20th century, during the Spanish Civil War, General Emilio Zambada (1895-1942) emerged as a key military figure. His strategies and leadership in the battlefield were documented in various military dispatches, solidifying the Zambada name in the annals of Spanish military history.

Lastly, the mid-20th century introduced Pilar Zambada (1934-1989), a celebrated Spanish artist known for her contributions to the modernist movement. Her artworks, displayed in galleries across Europe, reflected the dynamic and evolving cultural landscape of post-war Spain. Her legacy continues to influence contemporary Spanish art, maintaining the prominence of the Zambada name in cultural contexts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zambada

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

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

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

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