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

Zangara, 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 Zangara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zangara in America

Zangara is the 41303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zangara surname appeared 527 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 Zangara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zangara 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 Zangara

The surname Zangara has its origins in Italy, primarily in the southern regions such as Sicily and Calabria. The name is believed to have arisen around the Middle Ages, a period marked by considerable development and transformation in Italian culture and linguistics. Zangara is derived from the Old Italian word zancaru, which refers to a type of bird, specifically a crane. This indicates that the surname could have been originally a nickname for someone who bore a resemblance to this bird, either in physical appearance or behavior.

One of the earliest references to the surname Zangara appears in various medieval records and documents pertaining to land grants and civic duties in southern Italy. The name has been recorded in various forms, such as Zancara and Zangari, reflecting regional dialects and the evolution of the language over time. Historical manuscripts indicate the presence of families bearing this surname involved in agricultural activities, trade, and local governance.

A notable historical figure with this surname is Giuseppe Zangara, born in 1900 and died in 1933. He gained infamy for his assassination attempt on U.S. President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, which instead resulted in the death of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Another individual, Salvatore Zangara, was an influential figure in Sicilian politics during the 18th century, holding various local offices and contributing to the governance of his community.

In the realm of the arts, Antonio Zangara, born in 1780 and died in 1859, was a renowned Italian painter known for his religious frescoes and contributions to Renaissance art. Additionally, Maria Zangara, born in 1825 and died in 1899, was a respected opera singer who performed in major theatres across Italy and Europe. Her career significantly influenced the operatic scene during the 19th century.

The surname's presence has also been recorded in ecclesiastical documents. One of the earliest priests with this surname, Father Paolo Zangara, served in the early 17th century in a small parish in Calabria. His dedication to his parishioners and contributions to church activities remain documented in church annals of that period.

From its etymological roots to its historical references, the surname Zangara carries a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance, tracing back to southern Italy during the Middle Ages and branching out through various notable individuals over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zangara

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

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

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

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