2000
#150,436
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zanol
An Italian surname derived from the name Zanollo, a diminutive of Giovanno.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Zanol. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zanol 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
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Zanol in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zanol, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Two or More Races (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zanol
The surname Zanol originates from Italy, particularly from regions like Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto in the northern part of the country. The name can be traced back to medieval times, around the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to have derived from a diminutive or regional variation of "Zan," which itself is a short form of the name Gianni or Giovanni, meaning "John" in English.
The linguistic roots of Zanol are linked to the Latin name Johannes, which became Giovanni in Italian. Over time, regional dialects and linguistic shifts produced various diminutives and alterations, one of which became Zanol. In these areas, surnames often reflected the personal names of ancestors, locations, or occupations, with Zanol likely signifying "little John" or "descendant of John."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zanol appears in ecclesiastical documents from the 14th century in Trentino. These documents often listed notable families and landowners, indicating that individuals with this surname were well-integrated into the social fabric of the community. During the Renaissance period, Northern Italy saw a surge in record-keeping, including taxation documents and property registries, where the name Zanol occasionally surfaced.
Jacopo Zanol (1532-1598) was a notable figure from the Trentino region. He is mentioned in local historical records as a landholder and merchant, evidencing the economic activities of families bearing this surname. His involvement in trade between Italian city-states highlights the mobility and connectedness of the Zanol family during this period.
In the 17th century, a certain Giovanni Battista Zanol (1603-1671) is recorded as a prominent figure in the arts, particularly in Venetian painting. His works, though lesser-known today, contributed to the rich tapestry of Renaissance art in Venice, linking the surname to cultural developments of the time.
The name continued to appear in historical texts through the 18th and 19th centuries. For instance, Maria Teresa Zanol (1756-1812) is referenced in genealogical records as part of the aristocratic circles in Trentino, indicating the family's sustained social standing over generations. Her lineage can be traced through landed property and marital alliances.
Another significant figure is Luigi Zanol (1822-1889), who was a notable scientist and academic in the field of natural sciences during the 19th century. He contributed several scholarly articles and was a professor at the University of Padua, solidifying the name’s association with intellectual accomplishment.
Towards the late 19th century, Francesco Zanol (1865-1933) is noted as an influential political figure involved in the early labor movements in Northern Italy. His activism and writings supported labor reforms and workers' rights, emphasizing the evolving role of individuals with this surname in modern socio-political realms.
Through the centuries, the surname Zanol has been associated with various sectors, including commerce, the arts, academia, and politics, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who bore the name. The historical trajectory of the surname from its medieval roots to its modern evolution showcases a rich history of influence and presence in northern Italy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zanol
Among Census respondents with the surname Zanol, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Two or More Races (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zanol 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 Zanol surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2% · 110
- Hispanic or Latino5.9% · 7
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zanol
Zanol 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
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
+2 bearers (+2.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 7,996 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+16 bearers (+15.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 14,921 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #150,436 | 100 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | +2 bearers (+2.0%) | Down 7,996 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +16 bearers (+15.7%) | Up 14,921 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 Zanol 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 | #158,432 | #143,511 | 9.4% |
| Count | 102 | 118 | 15.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 31.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zanol bearers went from 102 to 118 (+15.7% change). The surname moved up 14,921 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #143,511.
FAQ
Zanol surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zanol?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Zanol. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Zanol?
Zanol ranks #143,511 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 118 people with the surname Zanol. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), 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 Zanol.
Has Zanol become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zanol went from 102 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 16 (+15.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Zanol?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zanol, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Two or More Races (0.8%). 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 Zanol in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.2% (110 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zanol appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.2%), Hispanic (5.9%), Two or More Races (0.8%). 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 Zanol (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 Zanol mean?
An Italian surname derived from the name Zanollo, a diminutive of Giovanno. 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 Zanol (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 share the surname Zanol?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.