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

Zarella, 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 Zarella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zarella in America

Zarella is the 64388th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zarella surname appeared 309 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 Zarella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zarella 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 Zarella

The surname Zarella originates from Italy, with roots traceable to the southern regions, particularly around Naples and Sicily. The name likely emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. It is derived from the Italian word zara, meaning 'cliff' or 'rock', combined with the diminutive suffix ella, indicating 'little' or 'small'. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a small rocky cliff or a notable stone feature in their locality.

In terms of historical records, one of the earliest known instances of the surname Zarella appeared in documents from the region of Campania in the early 16th century. Despite the relatively common occurrence of the name in the region, written records were sparse due to the period's limited bureaucratic structures. The availability of parish records and civil registration only started to improve in the 16th century, leading to more documentation of families bearing this surname.

Among the notable figures carrying the surname Zarella was Giovanni Zarella, an influential trader in the coastal towns of Calabria, born around 1540. His business dealings and extensive networks contributed to the regional commerce, with records mentioning him up until his death in 1602. Another historical figure includes Maria Zarella, a renowned midwife in Naples born in 1675, who gained fame for her work in maternal health and the pioneering methods she introduced, passing away in 1730.

During the 18th century, Vincenzo Zarella, born in 1702, served as a prominent local official in Palermo, contributing significantly to the public administration reforms and urban development of the city. His work helped shape the modern infrastructure of Palermo before his death in 1765. Luigi Zarella, born in 1755, was another notable figure from Catania, remembered for his contributions to the local agrarian economy and advancements in agricultural techniques, which were revolutionary at the time. Luigi passed away in 1820, but his legacy continued to influence farming practices in the region.

In more recent historical context, Antonio Zarella born in 1825 in Sicily, became a noted figure in the Italian unification movement. His involvement with the Garibaldi campaigns and subsequent political engagements earned him recognition until his death in 1890. His contributions were pivotal in the efforts to unify Italy into a single nation-state.

The surname Zarella has thus evolved from a descriptor of geographical features to a distinguished family name associated with various historical figures in Italy, reflecting both the socio-economic changes and the personal achievements of those who bore the name. The legacy of the Zarella name continues through myriad historical references and contributions to Italian cultural and socio-economic history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zarella

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

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

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

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