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

Zapeta, 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 Zapeta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zapeta in America

Zapeta is the 46219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zapeta surname appeared 461 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 Zapeta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zapeta 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 Zapeta

The surname Zapeta is primarily of Spanish origin, appearing as early as the medieval period. The name is believed to derive from the Spanish word "zapato," meaning "shoe," suggesting a possible occupation-based origin, likely indicating that the bearer was a shoemaker or someone involved in the footwear trade. This emerges from the tradition of occupational surnames, which were common in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Historically, the name Zapeta appears in various regions of Spain, predominantly in areas such as Castile and Andalusia. It is also found in regions that were under Spanish influence. Such names often reflect the trade or craft of an individual, and in this case, someone who worked with shoes or leather could have adopted Zapeta as a surname. The name's origin is linked to the Latin word "sandalium," from which the Spanish "zapato" is derived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zapeta can be traced back to the 14th century in Spanish tax records and guild memberships, where artisans and craftsmen were listed with their associated trades. Documentation from this period helps establish the geographical and occupational origins of the name. By the late 15th century, the name begins to appear in various legal documents, including land grants and wills, signifying the establishment of the name among settled communities.

Prominent individuals throughout history bearing the surname Zapeta include Juan Zapeta, a notable Spanish shoemaker born in 1452, who was known for his craftsmanship in Castile. Another person of note is Diego Zapeta, born in 1524, who served in the court of King Charles I of Spain, primarily dealing with trade and supply of footwear to the royal household. In the early 17th century, Maria Zapeta, born in 1590, gained recognition for her charitable work in Andalusia, where she established shelters for the poor, providing them with proper footwear.

In the Americas, Miguel Zapeta, born in 1621, a Spanish colonizer, played a role in the early development of settlements in what is now Mexico, bringing with him skills in shoemaking that were essential for the new colony. His contributions were well-documented in colonial records where detailed transactions and settlements were recorded. Lastly, in the late 18th century, Josefa Zapeta, born in 1787, became a prominent businesswoman in Madrid, excelling in the leather goods market and expanding her business internationally, marking the global spread of the name and its association with quality craftsmanship.

Throughout history, the name Zapeta has remained relatively rare, maintaining a strong connection to its occupational roots while evolving across generations and geographies. Its enduring legacy can be traced back through historical documents and notable figures who each left a distinct mark on the legacy of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zapeta

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

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

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

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