Zambrano
A Spanish surname referring to a person from Zamora, a city in northwestern Spain, or from Zamora, Ecuador.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 19,845 Americans carry the last name Zambrano. That puts it at #2,117 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 5.79 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 17,272 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zambrano surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
20K
1 in 17,272
Census rank
#2,117
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
5.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
17K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 17,092 bearers of the surname Zambrano in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 5.79 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 2117th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zambrano, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.4%. The next largest groups are White (6.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zambrano
The surname Zambrano originated in Spain, and its roots can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the word "zamarra," which means a sheepskin garment or coat in Spanish. Historically, surnames often originated from occupations, physical characteristics, or places of residence.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Zambrano can be found in the Cartulario de Arras, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century. This document mentions a person named "Pedro Zambrano," who lived in the region of Aragon, Spain.
During the Middle Ages, the name Zambrano was associated with various noble families in Spain. One notable figure was Alonso Zambrano, a 15th-century Spanish knight who participated in the Reconquista, the period of Christian conquest over the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula.
In the 16th century, the surname Zambrano gained prominence in the Americas, particularly in regions colonized by the Spanish Empire. One significant individual was Diego Zambrano, a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico in the early 1500s.
Another notable figure was Juan Zambrano, a 17th-century Spanish composer and organist who served in the royal court of King Philip IV. His compositions, which included sacred and secular works, were highly regarded during his time.
The name Zambrano has also been associated with literary figures, such as María Zambrano, a Spanish philosopher and essayist born in 1904. She was a prominent figure in the Generation of '36, a group of intellectuals and writers who emerged during the Spanish Civil War.
In the realm of art, one cannot overlook Gregorio Zambrano, a Venezuelan sculptor born in 1942. His abstract and geometric works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world, earning him international acclaim.
Another notable individual with the surname Zambrano was José Zambrano Valdivia, a Peruvian politician and diplomat who served as the President of Peru from 1844 to 1851. He played a significant role in the country's political landscape during a turbulent period in its history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zambrano
Among Census respondents with the surname Zambrano, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.4%. The next largest groups are White (6.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Zambrano bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Zambrano surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino91.4%
- White6.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.4%
- Two or more races0.3%
- Black or African American0.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Zambrano surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,117 | #2,117 | 0.0% |
| Count | 17,092 | 17,092 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 5.79 | 5.79 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Zambrano bearers went from 17,092 to 17,092 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #2,117 to #2,117.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Zambrano
FAQ
Zambrano surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Zambrano?
The surname Zambrano holds position #2,117 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 19,845 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 5.79 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Zambrano surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zambrano, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.4%. The next largest groups are White (6.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.