2000
#127,948
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zangla
A surname originating from a regional Italian place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Zangla. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zangla surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Zangla in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zangla, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zangla
The surname Zangla has its roots in the mountainous regions of Tibet, with a specific origin in the village of Zangla in the present-day Indian union territory of Ladakh. The name is derived from the Tibetan word "Zang," which means copper, and "la," which stands for pass or mountain pass. This name likely emerged during the early medieval period, with historical records indicating its usage in the 11th century when the village of Zangla was a significant cultural and administrative center.
Historical references to the name Zangla can be found in ancient Tibetan manuscripts and records from the Ladakh Chronicles. The Chronicles, which chronicle the history of Ladakh and surrounding areas, mention the village of Zangla several times, indicating its importance. One of the earliest recorded usages of the surname Zangla as a family name appears in a 14th-century Tibetan manuscript, which belonged to the royal family of Zangla village.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Zangla was Thubten Zangla, a notable monk and scholar born around 1390. He was known for his contributions to Tibetan Buddhist literature and philosophy. Thubten Zangla's works were influential in the spread of Buddhism in the region, making his surname notable in religious contexts.
In the 17th century, another prominent figure with the surname appeared: Tsering Zangla, a renowned painter born in 1623. His murals in the monasteries of Zangla and other parts of Ladakh are celebrated for their vibrant colors and intricate details. Tsering Zangla's art has been studied extensively and is considered an integral part of Himalayan art history.
During the 18th century, the surname Zangla expanded beyond the Tibetan and Ladakhi regions, as trade and migration increased. One notable figure from this period was Dorje Zangla, a merchant born in 1745 who played a crucial role in establishing trade routes between Ladakh and the neighboring regions. Dorje Zangla's efforts facilitated economic growth and cultural exchange in the area.
In the 19th century, the surname Zangla remained prominent, with Rinchen Zangla, born in 1812, being a distinguished figure. Rinchen Zangla was a historian who documented the rich history of Ladakh and the Zangla region, ensuring that the cultural heritage was preserved for future generations. His historical accounts are still referenced by scholars studying the history of the Ladakh region.
Moving into the early 20th century, Phuntsok Zangla, born in 1887, became a notable figure. A politician and social reformer, Phuntsok Zangla was instrumental in advocating for the rights of the Ladakhi people and promoting educational reforms. His efforts contributed significantly to the modernization of the Zangla region and its integration into the broader Indian political framework.
Throughout its history, the surname Zangla has been associated with various notable figures, contributing to areas such as religion, art, trade, history, and politics. The legacy of the name continues to be of historical and cultural significance, primarily within the regions influenced by Tibetan and Ladakhi heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zangla
Among Census respondents with the surname Zangla, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%) and Two or More Races (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zangla bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zangla surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White98.1% · 105
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zangla
Zangla appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#132,206
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 128
+5 bearers (+4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,258 places
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-21 bearers (-16.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 19,433 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,948 | 123 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #132,206 | 128 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.1%) | Down 4,258 places |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -21 bearers (-16.4%) | Down 19,433 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zangla surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #132,206 | #151,639 | -14.7% |
| Count | 128 | 107 | -16.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zangla bearers went from 128 to 107 (-16.4% change). The surname moved down 19,433 positions in the national ranking, going from #132,206 to #151,639.
FAQ
Zangla surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zangla?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Zangla. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Zangla?
Zangla ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Zangla. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zangla.
Has Zangla become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zangla went from 128 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 21 (-16.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #132,206 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Zangla?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zangla, the largest self-reported group is White at 98.1%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%) and Two or More Races (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zangla in the 2020 Census, accounting for 98.1% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zangla appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (98.1%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.9%), Two or More Races (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zangla (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zangla mean?
A surname originating from a regional Italian place name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zangla (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zangla?
If you just want to know how many people are called Zangla, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.