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

Zapanta, 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 Zapanta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zapanta in America

Zapanta is the 27081st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zapanta surname appeared 894 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 Zapanta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zapanta 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 Zapanta

The surname Zapanta originates from the Philippines. Its etymology can be traced back to Spanish influence during the period of Spanish colonization from the 16th to the 19th century. The name likely emerged during this time as Filipinos began adopting surnames under Spanish rule, which included the need for surnames as part of the colonial administrative system.

Zapanta is believed to be derived from the Spanish word "zapato," which means "shoe." The suffix "a" may have been added to denote a place or a family associated with shoemaking. Such occupational surnames were common in Spanish-speaking countries and their colonies. Historical records show similar spellings and variations, such as "Zapata," which carries a similar meaning and may have influenced the formation of Zapanta.

Historical references to the surname include mentions in various colonial records and church documents. In 1849, the Spanish Governor General Narciso Claveria issued a decree mandating all Filipino natives to adopt Spanish surnames. This decree led to the widespread adoption of surnames like Zapanta across the archipelago. Church baptismal records from the 19th century frequently include the surname Zapanta, particularly in areas with strong Spanish influence.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Zapanta was Don Ramon Zapanta, a landowner documented in Spanish colonial records from the late 1800s. In the 20th century, Manuel Zapanta, born in 1895 and died in 1962, became notable for his contributions to Filipino agriculture. Further historical references include Jose Zapanta, an educator born in 1902 who significantly impacted Philippine education in the mid-20th century.

In the mid-1900s, Arturo Zapanta rose to prominence as a politician and lawmaker, born in 1920 and passed away in 1985. His legislative work contributed to various social reforms in the post-World War II Philippines. Another notable individual is Maria Zapanta, an artist and cultural advocate born in 1945, whose work has been exhibited internationally, highlighting Filipino heritage.

The surname Zapanta has deep historical roots shaped by colonial influence and has been borne by individuals who played significant roles in Filipino society. Its legacy continues to be evident in the arts, politics, and education, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who carried the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zapanta

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!