Zarich last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Zarich

A variant spelling of the toponymic surname derived from Žarici, Croatia.

Zarich, 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 Zarich surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zarich in America

Zarich is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zarich surname appeared 111 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 Zarich.

The history of the last name Zarich

The surname Zarich traces its origins to the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe, specifically within the territories of modern-day Ukraine. The name dates back to at least the 15th century when surnames began to be used more extensively for identification purposes. The surname is believed to be derived from the old Slavic word "zar" meaning "beyond" combined with "rjeka" or "rzeka," which translates to "river." As a toponymic surname, Zarich likely signified someone who lived beyond or near a river.

In terms of geographical origin, the surname Zarich was predominantly found in and around the Carpathian Mountains, an area known for its rich history of settlement and migration. Documented records from this region suggest that the name was common among those who lived near prominent rivers such as the Dniester or the Prut. Variations in the spelling of the surname, such as Zarick or Zaryk, can be found in ancient manuscripts, reflecting the fluidity of transliteration and regional dialects.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Zarich appears in a 16th-century parish register in the Lviv Oblast, a historical region of Ukraine. During this period, the name was also documented in legal records related to land ownership and river trade, further tying the etymology of the name to individuals living near water bodies. Another early reference includes a 1587 record of Ivan Zarich, a landowner who played a crucial role in the local governance around Chernivtsi, a notable trading center.

Through the centuries, several individuals bearing the surname Zarich have left their mark on history. One such figure was Mykola Zarich (1802-1865), a distinguished Ukrainian poet known for his works inspired by river landscapes and folk traditions. Another notable person was Petro Zarich (1840-1912), an influential political activist during the Austro-Hungarian rule in Galicia, who advocated for Slavic rights and autonomy.

In the early 20th century, during the wave of Eastern European emigration to the United States, individuals with the surname Zarich sought new opportunities across the Atlantic. One of the prominent figures of this diaspora was Michael Zarich (1885-1943), who settled in Pennsylvania and became a well-known community leader and businessman within the Ukrainian-American population.

Another famous individual associated with the surname was Vera Zarich (1910-1982), an acclaimed violinist who performed with several major European orchestras before immigrating to Canada. Her contributions to classical music earned her both recognition and accolades throughout her career.

Through its lineage, the surname Zarich always signifies a connection to rivers and the people who lived near them. Each historical reference and notable person contributes to the understanding and legacy of this enduring Slavic surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zarich

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

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 Zarich was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.19% 99
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 7.21% 8

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

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

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"Zarich last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 21, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/zarich-surname-popularity/.

"Zarich last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/zarich-surname-popularity/. Accessed 21 July, 2025

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

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