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

Zanni, 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 Zanni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zanni in America

Zanni is the 38214th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zanni surname appeared 580 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 Zanni.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zanni 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 Zanni

The surname Zanni is of Italian origin, with its roots deeply embedded in the northern regions of Italy, particularly in the area of Veneto and Lombardy. The name dates back to the medieval period and is believed to be derived from Gianni, a diminutive form of Giovanni, which is the Italian equivalent of John. Giovanni itself has Hebrew origins from the name Yohanan, meaning "God is gracious."

Zanni first appeared in historical records during the 13th and 14th centuries. An interesting note is its association with the Commedia dell'Arte, a form of theater in which Zanni was a common character, evolving into the now-familiar archetype of the mischievous and cunning servant. This character played a significant role in popularizing the name during the Italian Renaissance.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Zanni is found in the records of a 14th-century manuscript referencing a certain Pietro Zanni, born around 1320, who was a notary in Venice. Another early mention is that of Andrea Zanni, a wealthy merchant from Verona in the late 1400s, particularly around 1490.

One of the most notable individuals bearing this surname is Nicolò Zanni, an explorer born in 1510 who accompanied Venetian expeditions across the Mediterranean. His contributions were well-recognized in the maritime charts of his time. Another significant figure is Taddeo Zanni, an artist born in 1621, who became known for his intricate frescoes in Bologna.

In scholarly texts, Zanni also appears in the mid-1600s with Giovanni Battista Zanni, born in 1635, a mathematician and academic who taught at the University of Padua. His published works on geometry and algebra were influential in educational circles during his time.

An example from the 18th century is Paola Zanni, born in 1745, a prominent poetess whose works contributed to the Italian literary canon. Her collections of sonnets and verse garnered acclaim and are still studied in historical literary courses.

The name's continued presence in various historical documents highlights its longstanding significance in Italian history. From legal manuscripts and academic texts to artistic records, Zanni is a surname that encapsulates a rich cultural heritage spanning centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zanni

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

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

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

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