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

Zappulla, 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 Zappulla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zappulla in America

Zappulla is the 45804th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zappulla surname appeared 466 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 Zappulla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zappulla 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 Zappulla

The surname Zappulla originates from Italy, tracing back to the regions of Sicily. The name likely surfaced during the medieval period, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry and linguistic diversity of the island. Sicily has historically been a melting pot of various civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish. These influences are vital in understanding the evolution of local surnames.

Zappulla is believed to be derived from an occupational or descriptive origin. The root word Zappare in Italian means "to hoe" or "to dig," indicating that the surname may have been used to denote individuals who worked the land, possibly farmers or agricultural laborers. Such surnames were common in the Middle Ages, serving as identifiers for the trade or profession of the name bearer.

The first recorded instances of the surname Zappulla appear in parish registers and municipal records from the 15th and 16th centuries in Sicily. One notable early reference is from a 1574 document in the Sicilian town of Pachino, which mentions a Giovanni Zappulla, a landowner and farmer. This reference demonstrates how the surname was already established in Sicilian agrarian communities.

Another historical figure of significance is Francesco Zappulla, born in 1698, who was a renowned sculptor in Palermo, contributing to the Baroque art movement significant in Sicily. His works can still be seen adorning various buildings and churches in the region, marking the Zappulla family's involvement in creative and artistic professions.

In the mid-18th century, records from Catania highlight a magistrate named Antonio Zappulla, born in 1723, serving as a legal official adjudicating local disputes. This suggests the diversification of the surname beyond agricultural roots into judicial and civic roles, illustrating the socio-economic mobility within Sicilian society.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe Zappulla, an eminent writer and poet born in Messina in 1832, adds to the narrative of the surname’s cultural impact. His literary works, characterized by their exploration of Sicilian culture and identity, were well-received, contributing to the literary heritage of Italy.

Achille Zappulla, a 19th-century entrepreneur born in 1857, further exemplifies the evolution of the surname. Operating in the emerging industrial landscape of Naples, he established several successful businesses, highlighting the name's association with economic and industrial advancements during Italy's post-unification era.

Through these individuals, the surname Zappulla reflects a rich tapestry of agricultural, artistic, judicial, literary, and entrepreneurial traditions. This historical background encapsulates the diverse contributions of the Zappulla family to Italian society from medieval Sicily to the broader Italian peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zappulla

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

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

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

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