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

Zarba, 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 Zarba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zarba in America

Zarba is the 109758th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zarba surname appeared 161 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 Zarba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zarba 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 Zarba

The surname Zarba has its origins in Italy, with its roots traceable to the southern regions, particularly Sicily. The name possibly emerged during the late medieval period, roughly around the 12th to 14th centuries. Linguistically, the name Zarba is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "zarāb," meaning "bold" or "brave," indicative of the influences left by the Arab rule in Sicily from 827 to 1091.

Early records of the name Zarba can be found in Sicilian tax registers and notarial records from the 14th and 15th centuries, documenting the inhabitants and landholders of the region. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in a 1387 notarial deed from Palermo, where a certain Giovanni Zarba is mentioned as a witness in a property transaction. This suggests that the Zarba family was involved in mercantile or legal affairs.

Throughout history, the Zarba name has been represented by notable individuals. For example, Giacomo Zarba (1460–1525) was a prominent merchant in Messina, known for his trade activities with the eastern Mediterranean. Another significant figure was Lorenzo Zarba (1632–1690), a respected jurist in Catania who authored several legal treatises that were well-regarded in his time.

In the arts, Giuseppe Zarba (1710–1775) made his mark as a celebrated painter during the Baroque period, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Sicilian art. His works, primarily religious frescoes, can still be admired in churches across the island. Moving into the 19th century, Maria Zarba (1845–1911) became known for her efforts in social reform and education, advocating for women's rights and the establishment of schools in rural Sicily.

Further afield, the name began to spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas through migration in the 19th and early 20th centuries. By the early 20th century, Antonio Zarba (1890–1965), an Italian immigrant in the United States, became a successful entrepreneur and a community leader in New York, helping to establish various cultural organizations for Italian immigrants.

The Zarba surname, while not exceedingly common, carries with it a rich historical and cultural heritage, echoing the diverse influences and notable contributions of its bearers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zarba

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

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

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

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