Zambito last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zambito

Of Italian origin, a diminutive or derivative of "zambo" meaning lame or deformed.

Zambito, 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 Zambito surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zambito in America

Zambito is the 24517th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zambito surname appeared 1,020 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 Zambito.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zambito 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 24517 22973 6.50%
Count 1,020 1,040 -1.94%
Proportion per 100k 0.35 0.39 -10.81%

The history of the last name Zambito

The surname Zambito finds its roots in Italy, originating particularly from the Southern regions, such as Sicily. The name dates back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. During this time, surnames were becoming more structured and essential for administrative purposes in various Italian states and regions. Zambito is believed to derive from the old Italian word "sambuco," which translates to "elder tree," a plant commonly found in Sicily.

Historical references to the surname Zambito appear in various regional records and manuscripts. Notably, it appeared in Sicilian records around the 14th century, a period marked by a growing bureaucratic system that necessitated the recording of family names for legal and property matters. These records often referenced land ownership and civic responsibilities, anchoring the Zambito family within the agrarian and communal structures of medieval Italy.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zambito can be found in the civic archives of Palermo, Sicily, dating back to the 1370s. These records detail a Giovanni Zambito, a local landowner engaged in agricultural enterprises. The name appears in various spellings over time, including Zambiti and Zambitu, reflecting the fluid orthographic practices of the period.

Noteworthy individuals with the surname Zambito include Pietro Zambito, born in 1464 and active in the cultural milieu of Renaissance Sicily. He was known for his contributions to local governance and participated in the expansion of educational opportunities within his community. Another prominent figure was Maria Zambito, born in 1522, who is recorded in ecclesiastical documents for her involvement in local charitable activities and the founding of a community hospital in Messina.

In the early 18th century, a Vincenzo Zambito emerged as a significant figure in the burgeoning commercial activities of Naples. Born in 1698, he engaged in trade between Naples and other Mediterranean ports, facilitating the growth of merchant networks. His efforts were instrumental in establishing the Zambito name as synonymous with mercantile success during this period.

Miguel Zambito, a descendant of the Italian Zambitos who settled in Spain, was born in 1614. He became known for his military service in the Spanish Navy, participating in several notable naval battles in the mid-17th century. His career reflects the diaspora of the Zambito family beyond Italy, illustrating their integration into broader European historical contexts.

Finally, Antonio Zambito, born in 1786 in Sicily, played a pivotal role in the political transformations of the early 19th century. Involved in the revolutionary movements during the Napoleonic Wars, he campaigned for national unification and independence, which marked a significant chapter in the modern history of Italy. His contributions are remembered as part of the foundational efforts that eventually led to the unification of Italy in 1861.

Through the centuries, the Zambito surname has evolved, leaving a historical imprint marked by agricultural roots, civic leadership, commercial enterprise, military service, and political activism. The legacy of this surname is woven into the broader tapestry of Italian and European history, illustrating the enduring influence of the Zambito family.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zambito

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

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 Zambito was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.75% 946
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.49% 5
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.67% 17
Hispanic Origin 4.80% 49

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 92.75% 96.25% -3.70%
Black 0.49% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.67% 1.15% 36.88%
Hispanic 4.80% 2.12% 77.46%

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

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

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

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

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

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