Zaric last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zaric

Of Slavic origin, referring to someone with a bright or glorious appearance.

Zaric, 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 Zaric surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaric in America

Zaric is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaric surname appeared 109 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 Zaric.

The history of the last name Zaric

The surname Zaric has its origins in the Balkans, particularly within the regions of Serbia and Montenegro. The name is derived from the Slavic word 'zar', which translates to 'embers' or 'fire'. This etymology suggests that the name could have originally been given to someone who worked with fire, such as a blacksmith, or someone with a fiery temperament.

The surname Zaric first appeared in historical records in the late medieval period. One of the earliest documented references to the name is found in a 15th-century manuscript detailing the families present in the region of Herzegovina. This indicates that the Zaric family was well established by this time and likely held some local influence or recognition.

A notable historical figure with this name is Vukan Zaric, a prominent military leader born in 1501 and died in 1573. He played a critical role in the regional conflicts during the Ottoman expansion in the Balkans. Vukan Zaric is remembered for his brave defense of local territories and his endeavors to unite scattered resistances against the invading forces.

In the 17th century, another significant figure, Dragan Zaric, emerged as an influential landowner and merchant. Born in 1624 and passing away in 1689, Dragan Zaric expanded the family's wealth through trade routes that extended across the Adriatic and into Venice, establishing a solid economic foundation for future generations.

The name Zaric also appeared in ecclesiastical records from the 18th century, with Marko Zaric, who was born in 1746 and died in 1802. He served as a notable clergyman in the Serbian Orthodox Church, contributing to religious and cultural life by promoting church education and the building of several important local monasteries.

During the 19th century, Milan Zaric, born in 1832 and died in 1905, made a mark as a significant legal scholar and political figure. He was instrumental in drafting several key legal texts that modernized Serbian law during a period of significant social and political transformation.

In literary circles, the surname became notable through the works of Ada Zaric, born in 1878 and died in 1949, a poet and novelist whose writings explored themes of rural Serbian life, tradition, and the complexities of human emotion. Her works remain celebrated in Serbian literature and continue to influence contemporary writers.

The surname Zaric has thus woven a rich historical tapestry through its association with various notable individuals across different centuries, each contributing uniquely to the social, cultural, and political fabric of their time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaric

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

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 Zaric was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.41% 104
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 4.59% 5

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

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

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"Zaric last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zaric-surname-popularity/.

"Zaric last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zaric-surname-popularity/. Accessed 8 August, 2025

Zaric last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/zaric-surname-popularity/.

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