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

Zapon, 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 Zapon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zapon in America

Zapon is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zapon surname appeared 100 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 Zapon.

The history of the last name Zapon

The surname Zapon originates from Eastern Europe, specifically from regions that are part of modern-day Poland and Ukraine. The name began to appear during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th to 15th centuries. The areas in which the name was initially found were often characterized by Slavic linguistic and cultural influences.

Zapon is derived from the Slavic root word "zapon," which means belt or girdle. This root word is common in several Slavic languages and often referred to someone who made or sold belts, indicating that the surname may have been occupational in origin. The use of surnames to describe occupations was a widespread practice in medieval Europe.

The first recorded example of the surname Zapon comes from a Polish manuscript dating back to 1462. This document, which details the inhabitants of a small village named Wawrzeńczyce near Kraków, lists a Paweł Zapon, who is recorded as a leatherworker. This early reference underscores the occupational origin of the surname.

Another historical reference to the name can be found in a 1527 tax record from the region of Lviv, now in Ukraine, where a Mikolaj Zapon is listed as a landowner. This document highlights the expansion of the family and the growing significance of the name in different social strata. The name varied in spelling, sometimes appearing as Zappon or Zaponov, reflecting the linguistic and dialectical differences in the region.

One of the more famous individuals bearing the surname Zapon was Jan Zapon, born in 1580, who became a prominent merchant in Kraków. His records show extensive trade relations with other parts of Poland and Lithuania, suggesting that the family had established considerable wealth and influence by the late 16th century.

During the 17th century, the Zapon family continued to flourish. In 1642, a Łukasz Zapon was recorded as a member of the Polish nobility in a heraldic registry known as the "Armorial of Kacper Niesiecki." This inclusion indicates significant social advancement and a respected status among the nobility of the time.

By the 18th century, the Zapon surname had spread further across Eastern Europe. In 1745, archival records from the city of Lwów (now Lviv) mention Anna Zapon, a noted patron of the arts and education. Her contributions to local schools and her patronage of regional artists left a lasting legacy in the city.

In the mid-19th century, another notable bearer of this surname was Iwan Zapon, born in 1809 in what is now western Ukraine. He became an influential figure in the Ukrainian National Awakening, advocating for cultural and educational reforms and publishing several works on Slavic history and literature until his death in 1865.

The Zapon surname illustrates a rich history rooted in occupational origins, social advancement, and cultural contributions. Throughout the centuries, the name has been associated with various regions of Eastern Europe and has been borne by individuals who made significant impacts in their respective societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zapon

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

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 Zapon 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.

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

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

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