Zanella last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zanella

An Italian surname derived from a diminutive of the personal name Zane.

Zanella, 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 Zanella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zanella in America

Zanella is the 35866th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zanella surname appeared 626 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 Zanella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zanella 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 35866 32227 10.69%
Count 626 674 -7.38%
Proportion per 100k 0.21 0.25 -17.39%

The history of the last name Zanella

The surname Zanella has its origins in Italy, specifically in the northern regions such as Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. The name is believed to have emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from a diminutive of the personal name Zane, which itself is a Venetian form of the name Giovanni (John). The addition of 'ella' signifies a smaller or affectionate version, hence Zanella can be interpreted as "little John" or "beloved John."

The surname appears in various forms in old manuscripts and church records from the medieval period. Historical references to the Zanella surname can be found in Venetian documents dating back to the 15th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is from the Venetian Republic, where a Zanella family was noted for their involvement in the trade and maritime industry.

In the 16th century, someone named Giovanni Zanella, born in 1510 and died in 1577, is documented as a notable merchant in the city of Venice. His records provide insights into the commercial activities and the prominent role that the Zanella family played in the economic landscape of the time.

Another significant figure is Francesco Zanella, a 17th-century scholar born in 1625 and who passed away in 1693. Francesco was known for his contributions to the literary and academic circles in Verona, and several of his works on classical literature were widely circulated.

The surname also appears in ecclesiastical records. An influential cleric, Father Marco Zanella, born in 1745 and died in 1810, served in the Diocese of Padua. His writings and pastoral work were influential in the religious community of the region during that period.

Moving to the 19th century, we encounter the poet and philosopher Giacomo Zanella, born in 1820 and passing in 1888. Giacomo's literary works had a significant impact on Italian literature and the Romantic movement. His poetry often reflected the cultural and social issues of his time.

In the early 20th century, renowned artist Luigi Zanella, born in 1880 and died in 1955, gained fame for his contributions to sculpture and painting. Luigi's works are still celebrated in various museums and galleries across Italy, showcasing the artistic heritage of the Zanella family.

Throughout its history, the surname Zanella has been associated with various professions and achievements, reflecting the diverse contributions of individuals bearing this name. From merchants and scholars to clergy and artists, the Zanella surname holds a rich and multifaceted heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zanella

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

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 Zanella was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 85.62% 536
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.80% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 12.62% 79

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 85.62% 90.80% -5.87%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.80% 0.89% -10.65%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races (S)% 0.89% (S)%
Hispanic 12.62% 7.12% 55.72%

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zanella, 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!

"Zanella last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zanella-surname-popularity/.

"Zanella last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zanella-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

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

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