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

Zar, 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 Zar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zar in America

Zar is the 33530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zar surname appeared 680 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 Zar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zar 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 Zar

The surname Zar has intriguing and multifaceted historical roots. It is believed to have originated from Central and Eastern Europe, with some of the earliest references appearing in regions that are now part of modern-day Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Its etymology is somewhat ambiguous, but linguists believe it could be derived from the Old Slavic term "żar," meaning "fire" or "glow," reflecting a possible connection to professions involving metalworking or perhaps a fiery temperament.

The surname Zar appears in medieval manuscripts, where it was used to denote certain geographic regions or family lineages. One of the earliest documented instances of the name occurs in a 12th-century Polish manuscript, where a nobleman by the name of Bolesław Zar is mentioned as a landowner in the region of Lesser Poland. This early reference suggests that the Zar family held some stature and influence during this period.

In Hungary, records from the 14th century mention a family named Zar involved in the governance of local municipalities in what is now Budapest. One notable member of this family was István Zar, born in 1307, who served as a councilman. The name Zar also appears in Bohemian records during the 15th century, primarily referring to landowners and merchants. Jan Zar, born in 1423, was a notable merchant trading between Prague and Krakow.

Moving into the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Zar begins to spread westwards. One prominent figure of this period is Rafael Zar, a diplomat in the Habsburg dynasty born in 1552. His letters and treaties often appear in European historical records, illustrating the wide reach and influence of individuals with this surname.

In the 18th century, the name is found within the context of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Maria Zara, born in 1778 in Vienna, was an influential figure in courtly circles, known for her patronage of the arts and her extensive personal library. Zar variants appear in Italian records as well, suggesting some cross-cultural exchanges and migrations.

By the 19th century, individuals bearing the surname Zar began appearing in various parts of Europe, including France and the Iberian Peninsula. Philippe Zar, born in 1825 in Paris, was a renowned botanist whose contributions to the field are still recognized today. As the surname continued to disperse, its variations and spellings adapted to local languages and customs, but its historical roots remain a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zar

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

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

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

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