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

Zani, 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 Zani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zani in America

Zani is the 43651st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zani surname appeared 494 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 Zani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zani 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 Zani

The surname Zani has its origins in Italy, with roots traced back as far as the medieval period. It is primarily associated with the northern regions of the country, particularly Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. The name Zani is thought to be derived from the diminutive of the given name Giovanni, meaning John in English. In Italian, the name Giovanni often becomes Zan or Zani when shortened or altered.

In historical references, the surname Zani appears in various archival documents dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is in a legal document from Bologna in 1264, where a certain Pietro Zani is mentioned as a witness in a land dispute. Another notable reference is found in Venetian records from the late 14th century, which mention a merchant named Giacomo Zani who was active in trade across the Adriatic Sea.

The place name Zanè, a municipality in the Veneto region, is believed to share etymological roots with the surname Zani. Historical documents from the region often feature this name with various spellings, such as Zane, Zanni, and Zano, reflecting the linguistic variations that occurred over time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Zani. Giuseppe Maria Zani (1687-1770) was an esteemed Italian musicologist and composer, contributing significantly to the documentation of musical history during his lifetime. Another prominent figure is Girolamo Zani (flourished mid-16th century), an Italian painter whose works were highly regarded in the region of Parma.

Giuseppe Zani, an Italian engraver born in 1739 and died in 1814, gained recognition for his detailed and intricate engravings, which are now preserved in various art collections and museums. During the Renaissance, an early record mentions Giovanni Battista Zani (1520-1593), known for his role as a diplomat and advisor to Italian nobility.

Lastly, Francesco Zani, a 17th-century mathematician and philosopher, made significant contributions to the academic fields of his time. He was particularly known for his works on geometry and his correspondence with other scholars throughout Europe.

In conclusion, the surname Zani has a rich and varied history with roots deep in Italian culture and society. The name has evolved over centuries, appearing in numerous historical records and associated with notable individuals who have made enduring contributions in their respective fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zani

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

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

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

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