Zammit last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zammit

A surname with Maltese origins meaning an olive grower or seller.

Zammit, 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 Zammit surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zammit in America

Zammit is the 28704th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zammit surname appeared 830 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 Zammit.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zammit 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 28704 27771 3.30%
Count 830 815 1.82%
Proportion per 100k 0.28 0.30 -6.90%

The history of the last name Zammit

The surname Zammit has its origins in the Mediterranean region, specifically Malta. The name first appeared in historical records in the late Middle Ages, around the 15th century. Zammit is believed to be derived from an Arabic word or name, predominantly the word za’im, which means "leader" or "chieftain." This is reflective of the significant Arabic influence in Malta due to the Arab rule between 870 and 1091 AD.

In ancient manuscripts and documents, the surname Zammit often appears in varying spellings, including Zammito and Zammiti, capturing the fluidity of orthographic standards in the pre-modern period. The name's earliest known recorded instance appears in the 1500s in the registers of Maltese parishes, which meticulously documented the island's inhabitants.

Several notable bearers of the surname Zammit have made significant contributions to various fields. Among these is Sir Temi Zammit (1864–1935), a renowned Maltese archaeologist and historian. His work in uncovering prehistoric Malta opened new avenues for understanding the island's ancient past. Another distinguished figure is Antonino Zammit (1851–1939), an influential Italian-Maltese lawyer and politician known for his role in the political landscape of Malta.

In more recent history, John Zammit (1946–2013) was a prominent Maltese journalist and political activist, best known for his advocacy for secularism and human rights. His impactful work spanned several decades, leaving a lasting legacy in the Maltese media.

Among the records of those who bore the name, one finds Joseph Zammit, a prominent merchant and shipowner in the 18th century. His trade activities contributed significantly to Malta's economy during a time when maritime commerce was essential for the island's prosperity.

Another historical figure is Carmelo Zammit (1903–1953), a respected physician and public health advocate. His efforts in improving sanitation and medical practices in rural areas greatly benefited the Maltese population during his time.

Throughout its history, the surname Zammit has been associated with leadership, intellect, and social contribution, reflecting its etymological roots as a term denoting authority and guidance. The name remains a prominent and respected surname in Malta and among Maltese diaspora communities worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zammit

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

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 Zammit was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.58% 785
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.20% 10
Hispanic Origin 3.98% 33

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.58% 95.83% -1.31%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.20% 1.47% -20.22%
Hispanic 3.98% 2.09% 62.27%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

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

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

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

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