2000
#135,837
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zapantis
A surname of Greek origin, possibly derived from the name Zapantis.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Zapantis. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zapantis 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
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Zapantis in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zapantis, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zapantis
The surname Zapantis originates from Greece. It is believed to have emerged during the Byzantine Empire period, which lasted from approximately the 4th century AD until the 15th century. The name is especially common in the Peloponnese region and some of the Greek islands. It likely derives from an old Greek word or a regional dialect, although the exact etymology remains somewhat uncertain due to the scarcity of records from that time.
One theory suggests that the name Zapantis could be linked to the word "zapanti," which refers to a type of narrow road or alleyway in Greek. It's plausible that the surname originated as a descriptive term for someone living near or associated with such a feature. Additionally, variations in spelling over the centuries have included Zapantis, Zapandi, and Sapantis, reflecting the fluidity of language and transcription during that era.
The earliest recorded mention of the surname Zapantis occurs in Byzantine-era manuscripts, particularly in tax records and legal documents from the 14th century. One significant reference appears in a land registry document from 1387, which lists a Georgios Zapantis as a landowner in the region of Arcadia. This mention suggests that the family name held some degree of prominence and stability in the area.
Another historically significant figure is Ioannis Zapantis, born in 1432 and recorded in Venetian census records of the island of Crete. Ioannis served as a local official under Venetian rule, which indicates the family's integration into the administrative frameworks of the time. His position and responsibilities are detailed in a notarial document dated to 1471, making him among the earliest documented bearers of the surname.
Moving forward to the 17th century, another notable Zapantis is Demetrios Zapantis, a prominent merchant born in 1608 in the town of Kalamata. His trade networks extended from the Peloponnese to as far as the Adriatic Sea, documented in commercial logs and correspondences. The records from 1654 describe Demetrios as a significant figure in the olive oil and wine trade, further illustrating the socioeconomic mobility and prominence of the Zapantis family.
In the 18th century, a military leader named Nikolas Zapantis emerged during the Greek War of Independence. Born in 1778 in the village of Leontio, he played a crucial role in several battles against Ottoman forces. Historical accounts and military rosters from the period between 1821 and 1829 frequently mention his name, commemorating his contributions to the cause of liberation.
More recently in the 19th century, Sotirios Zapantis, born in 1833 in Nafplio, became a recognized scholar and educator. He was instrumental in establishing several schools in the newly independent Greece, particularly focusing on promoting literacy and education in rural areas. His efforts are documented in educational reform records from the 1870s, and he is remembered for his contributions to the intellectual development of the country.
The surname Zapantis thus encapsulates several centuries of Greek history, marked by various figures who contributed to their communities in significant ways. From landowners and merchants to military leaders and educators, the name Zapantis carries a legacy of resilience, adaptability, and service.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zapantis
Among Census respondents with the surname Zapantis, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (3.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Zapantis 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 Zapantis surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.8% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino9.1% · 11
- Two or more races3.3% · 4
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zapantis
Zapantis 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
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+1 bearers (+0.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 8,304 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+6 bearers (+5.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,832 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #135,837 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +1 bearers (+0.9%) | Down 8,304 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.2%) | Up 2,832 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 Zapantis 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 | #144,141 | #141,309 | 2.0% |
| Count | 115 | 121 | 5.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zapantis bearers went from 115 to 121 (+5.2% change). The surname moved up 2,832 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #141,309.
FAQ
Zapantis surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zapantis?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Zapantis. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Zapantis?
Zapantis ranks #141,309 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 121 people with the surname Zapantis. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), 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 Zapantis.
Has Zapantis become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zapantis went from 115 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 6 (+5.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #144,141 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Zapantis?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zapantis, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (3.3%). 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 Zapantis in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.8% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zapantis appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.8%), Hispanic (9.1%), Two or More Races (3.3%). 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 Zapantis (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 Zapantis mean?
A surname of Greek origin, possibly derived from the name Zapantis. 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 Zapantis (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 Zapantis?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.