2000
#127,948
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Zappi
An Italian surname derived from the term "zappo" meaning a hoe or mattock tool.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 133 Americans carry the last name Zappi. That puts it at #145,028 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,577,100 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zappi 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
133
1 in 2,577,100
Census rank
#145,028
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
116
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 116 bearers of the surname Zappi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 145028th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zappi, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (24.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zappi
The surname Zappi finds its roots in Italy, originating from the northern regions, specifically Lombardy and possibly Emilia-Romagna, during the medieval period. The earliest known versions of the name appear in the records from the 12th and 13th centuries. The name Zappi may be derived from the Italian verb "zappare," meaning "to hoe" or "to dig," indicating a possible connection to agricultural work or farming. This common practice of surnames reflecting occupations was widespread in Italy during these centuries.
One of the earlier recordings of the surname can be found in the archives of Bologna, dating back to the late 13th century. Here, the name appears as "de Zappis," a clear indication of its agrarian roots. The Zappi family of Bologna became well-documented over the centuries, contributing significantly to the cultural and political fabric of the region.
Among the notable figures bearing the surname was Giovan Battista Felice Zappi (1667-1719), a prominent Italian poet and lawyer. He is best known for his association with the Arcadian Academy in Rome, an influential literary institution. His works reflect the poetic trends of his time, and his contributions left a mark on Italian literature.
Another distinguished individual was Bartolomeo Zappi, who served as a member of the Council of Bologna in the late 14th century. His involvement in local governance provided historical insights into the administration and societal structures of northern Italian cities during the medieval period.
A notable Renaissance figure, Alessandro Zappi (1530-1594), was a well-regarded painter and student of the Mannerist style. His works were primarily religious, commissioned by various churches and monasteries across Italy. Alessandro's art contributed to the aesthetic heritage of the Renaissance period.
In the 18th century, Carlo Zappi, an adventurer and military figure, gained recognition for his exploits in the Napoleonic Wars. Carlo's military career included several key battles, earning him notoriety across Europe. His memoirs, now preserved in Italian archives, offer a vivid portrayal of the era's military and political dynamics.
Recent historical records mention Maria Zappi, a philanthropist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Maria's efforts focused on improving educational opportunities for women in rural Italy. Her legacy included the establishment of several schools and charitable institutions, reflecting her commitment to social improvement and educational access.
The surname Zappi has thus spanned centuries and regions, carrying with it a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance. The name's agrarian origins evolved over time, with bearers of the surname taking on diverse roles, from poets and painters to adventurers and philanthropists, leaving an indelible mark on Italian history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zappi
Among Census respondents with the surname Zappi, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (24.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zappi 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 Zappi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.1% · 86
- Hispanic or Latino24.1% · 28
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zappi
Zappi 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
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-17 bearers (-13.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 25,821 places
2020
#145,028
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+10 bearers (+9.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 8,741 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,948 | 123 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | -17 bearers (-13.8%) | Down 25,821 places |
| 2020 | #145,028 | 116 | 0.04 | +10 bearers (+9.4%) | Up 8,741 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 Zappi 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 | #153,769 | #145,028 | 5.7% |
| Count | 106 | 116 | 9.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -3.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zappi bearers went from 106 to 116 (+9.4% change). The surname moved up 8,741 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #145,028.
FAQ
Zappi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zappi?
Name Census estimates that about 133 living Americans carry the surname Zappi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,577,100 residents.
How common is Zappi?
Zappi ranks #145,028 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 116 people with the surname Zappi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (133), 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 Zappi.
Has Zappi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zappi went from 106 recorded bearers to 116. That is an increase of 10 (+9.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #145,028.
What does the Census say about the background of Zappi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zappi, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (24.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Zappi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 74.1% (86 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zappi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (74.1%), Hispanic (24.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Zappi (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 Zappi mean?
An Italian surname derived from the term "zappo" meaning a hoe or mattock tool. 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 Zappi (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 Zappi?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.