Zanti last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zanti

A surname possibly of Italian or Greek origin with an uncertain meaning.

Zanti, 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 Zanti surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zanti in America

Zanti is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zanti surname appeared 137 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 Zanti.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zanti 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 125282 125639 -0.28%
Count 137 126 8.37%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.05 0.00%

The history of the last name Zanti

The surname Zanti has its origins rooted in Italy, with historical traces dating back to the Renaissance period. The name is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Italy, particularly around areas such as Lombardy and Veneto. Derived from the Latin word "Sanctus," meaning "holy" or "sacred," Zanti underwent various transformations in medieval vernacular, reflecting regional linguistic shifts.

In historical manuscripts, the name Zanti appears in various forms. One of the earliest records of the name can be traced to the 13th century, where the Zanti family is mentioned in the Stato delle Anime (State of the Souls), a church document from the region of Lombardy. Another notable mention occurs in a Venetian document from 1427, listing a Giovanni Zanti, a merchant involved in the spice trade.

The name also appears in various regional spellings such as Zante and Zanto, linked to the Ionian island of Zante (modern-day Zakynthos), which Venetian rule influenced. This connection further underlines the historical Venetian ties and the dispersion of the name throughout Mediterranean trade routes.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Zanti surname is Bonifacio Zanti, a 14th-century painter known for his religious art, born around 1330 and active until his death in 1390. His works, primarily frescoes located in the churches of Verona, bear his signature, providing valuable historical context and documentation of the name.

Another prominent figure was Domenico Zanti, a scholar and poet born in 1525 in Venice. Domenico's writings often reflected the socio-political climate of his time, with numerous references appearing in the Venetian archives, preserving his legacy well into the 17th century.

The Zanti family name also finds mention in the annals of diplomacy. Ludovico Zanti, an envoy from Tuscany, played a vital role in the courts of Europe during the late 16th century. Born in 1560, Ludovico's diplomatic endeavors extended until his death in 1620, and archived letters and documents provide a clear account of his contributions.

A significant historical figure bearing the surname is Caterina Zanti, an influential publisher in Milan during the 17th century. Born in 1602, she managed one of the city's renowned printing presses until her death in 1675. Her publications, especially those from the period of the Counter-Reformation, are esteemed for their intellectual and theological contributions.

The 19th century introduced Alessandro Zanti, a renowned composer of operas and symphonies. Born in 1821, Alessandro's compositions gained recognition throughout Italy and parts of Europe, marking his influence in the world of classical music until his death in 1883.

Overall, the surname Zanti not only captures a significant heritage within Italy but also embodies a rich tapestry of historical and cultural evolution through various periods, regions, and fields. The continued presence and variation of the name through centuries underscore its lasting legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zanti

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

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 Zanti was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.16% 129
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 5.11% 7

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 Zanti has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.16% 94.44% -0.30%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic 5.11% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Zanti last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 10, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zanti-surname-popularity/.

"Zanti last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zanti-surname-popularity/. Accessed 10 August, 2025

Zanti last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zanti-surname-popularity/.

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