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

Zareba, 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 Zareba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zareba in America

Zareba is the 132206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zareba surname appeared 128 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 Zareba.

The history of the last name Zareba

The surname Zareba originates from Poland and is deeply rooted in the Polish language and culture. It is derived from the Polish word "zagroda," which means "enclosure" or "homestead." The name is particularly associated with rural areas where enclosed homesteads were common. Etymologically, the word "zagroda" comes from "za" meaning "behind" and "groda" meaning "fence" or "enclosure."

Dating back to the medieval period, the surname Zareba likely emerged around the 14th to 15th centuries when surnames became more standardized in Poland. Historically, Poland relied heavily on agrarian societies, and many people were named after their occupations or locations. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or owned an enclosed settlement.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zareba can be found in various church records and legal documents from the 16th century in the regions of Mazovia and Greater Poland. These areas were rich in agricultural activity, which aligns with the meaning of the surname.

An early historical figure with the surname was Jan Zareba, a notable landowner who was mentioned in documents from 1575 in Mazovia. He was involved in several land transactions and disputes, indicating that the Zareba family held some degree of influence during that period.

In the 17th century, another significant individual with the surname was Katarzyna Zareba, born in 1620, who was a documented benefactor of the local church in Greater Poland. Her donations and patronage were recorded in ecclesiastical histories, showing the family's continued importance in their community.

In the 19th century, during the time of the Polish Partitions, the surname appeared in various peasant uprisings and insurrections. Wojciech Zareba, born in 1798, was a known participant in the November Uprising against Russian rule in 1830-1831. His activities are chronicled in several historical accounts of the uprising.

Moving into the 20th century, Stanislaw Zareba, born in 1889, became a noted figure in the labor movement in Poland. He was instrumental in organizing strikes and advocating for workers' rights during the turbulent interwar period. His efforts are documented in labor history books and periodicals.

In more recent historical contexts, Maria Zareba, born in 1922, was a renowned linguist and academic who contributed significantly to the study of Slavic languages. Her scholarly work and numerous publications have had a lasting impact on the field.

The surname Zareba remains a testament to Polish heritage and the agrarian roots from which it sprang. Throughout history, individuals bearing this name have contributed to various facets of society, from landownership and religious patronage to political activism and academic achievement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zareba

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

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

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

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