Find out how popular the last name Zan is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zan.
A surname derived from the Persian word "zan" meaning "woman" or "wife".
Zan, 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 Zan surname is from the 2010 census data.
Zan is the 52851st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Zan surname appeared 392 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 Zan.
We can also compare 2010 data for Zan 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 | 52851 | 80812 | -41.84% |
| Count | 392 | 218 | 57.05% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.13 | 0.08 | 47.62% |
The surname Zan is believed to have its origins in Italy, specifically from the northern regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The time period associated with the initial usage of this surname dates back to around the 13th century. Zan is derived from the Venetian dialect and Italian name Zanni, itself a diminutive form of the given name Giovanni, meaning "John" in English, which has Hebrew origins meaning "God is gracious."
Records from the 13th and 14th centuries provide the earliest references to the surname in legal documents and parchments. Venetian merchant records from the early Renaissance period list several individuals bearing the surname Zan, indicating their roles in trade and commerce. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname is Giacomo Zan, a merchant recorded in the city of Venice in 1320.
The surname appeared in various old manuscripts, particularly those relating to trade and taxation. For instance, a record from 1367 in the archives of Treviso mentions a Marco Zan who was involved in the local wool trade. Over time, the name spread beyond the Venetian territory, influenced by the movements of people due to trade and marriage.
During the Renaissance, an individual named Leonardo Zan is noted for his contributions to the arts in Verona around 1475. Leonardo, born in 1450 and died in 1508, was a well-regarded painter whose works were commissioned by several local churches, reflecting the cultural and artistic heritage of the period.
Historical references also include records of Antonio Zan, a noted jurist and legal scholar born in 1502 in Padua, who contributed to the reform of local laws and died in 1570. Antonio's legal writings were frequently cited by later scholars, cementing his legacy within the academic community.
In the 17th century, another notable person with the surname Zan was Filippo Zan, a military officer who served in the Venetian army during the conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. Born in 1615, Filippo died in 1678 and was remembered for his strategic prowess and leadership in several critical battles.
The influence of the Zan family extended into the 18th and early 19th centuries as well, with Francesco Zan, born in 1755, a distinguished diplomat who played a role in the negotiations during the Napoleonic Wars, dying in 1820. His diplomatic efforts helped shape the political landscape of northern Italy during this turbulent period.
These historical figures demonstrate the diverse contributions of individuals with the surname Zan across various fields, from commerce and law to the arts and military service. The widespread distribution of the name across northern Italy over centuries indicates its importance within the regional socio-cultural fabric.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zan.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zan was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 43.88% | 172 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 46.94% | 184 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 2.55% | 10 |
| Hispanic Origin | 5.36% | 21 |
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 Zan has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 43.88% | 66.97% | -41.66% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 46.94% | 26.15% | 56.89% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Two or More Races | 2.55% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 5.36% | 4.59% | 15.48% |
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 Zan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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