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

Zanca, 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 Zanca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zanca in America

Zanca is the 53204th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zanca surname appeared 389 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 Zanca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zanca 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 Zanca

The surname Zanca has its origins in Italy, particularly from the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. The name began to appear in records around the 12th century, although earlier origins are possible. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "zanca," which means "shank" or "stilt," and might have originally been a nickname for someone with long legs or a peculiar way of walking.

Historical references to the surname appear in various medieval documents. For example, in a manuscript from the Apostolic Chamber in Rome dating back to the 13th century, there is mention of a Giovanni Zanca, who was a merchant and held a notable position in local society. Further documentation from the 14th century in Venice refers to a Pietro Zanca, who took part in the maritime trade that was prominent in the area during that period.

The early 15th century provides the earliest recorded example of the surname in a legal document from Milan. In 1418, a legal dispute involved a man named Marco Zanca, who was a landowner in the area. This record is crucial as it connects the name to specific geographic and social contexts.

In the 16th century, historical references include a Francesco Zanca, an artist renowned for his sculptures, born in 1510 and whose works contributed to the artistic heritage of Verona. His influence was significant during the Renaissance, and some of his pieces still exist in museums today.

Further into the 18th century, the name appears in the records of a Giuseppe Zanca, a cleric born in 1745 who became known for his religious writings and served as a bishop in the region of Emilia-Romagna. His legacy includes several theological texts that remain studied in ecclesiastical circles.

Amongst notable individuals in recent centuries, Carlo Zanca, born in 1823, contributed to the unification of Italy. He was an influential political figure advocating for Italian independence. His efforts in the mid-19th century were crucial in mobilizing public sentiment toward unification.

Lastly, the 19th-century records highlight the achievements of Maria Luisa Zanca, an educator born in 1876, who played a pivotal role in advancing women's education in Lombardy. Her work pioneering educational reforms significantly improved access to schooling for young girls.

The surname Zanca connects deeply to the regions of northern Italy and reflects a rich history intertwined with trade, art, religion, politics, and education. Its documented use through various centuries highlights individuals who made significant contributions to Italian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zanca

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

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

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

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