2000
#58,553
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 324
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.12
Very Rare Last name
Zarlengo
A surname originating from Piedmont, Italy, derived from the place name Zarlengo.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 382 Americans carry the last name Zarlengo. That puts it at #64,521 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 897,263 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zarlengo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
382
1 in 897,263
Census rank
#64,521
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
333
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 333 bearers of the surname Zarlengo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 64521st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zarlengo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zarlengo
The surname Zarlengo finds its origins in Italy, with roots stretching back to the medieval period. Predominantly, the name hails from the southern regions of the country, particularly the area surrounding Naples. The name Zarlengo is believed to be a patronymic or diminutive of a given name, derived from the Italian name Angelo, which means "angel" or "messenger." The prefix "zar" is hypothesized to be a variant of "sar," a term occasionally used in medieval Italy to denote a form of respect or endearment.
Historical references to the surname Zarlengo are sparse, but there are some notable mentions in local parish records and land deeds from the 17th century. The name appeared in various spelling forms, such as Sarlengo and Zarlenco, reflecting the fluid orthographic practices of the time. A significant early reference can be traced to a land deed in 1683, where a Giovanni Zarlenco is listed as a landowner in the Campania region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname is Donato Zarlengo, born in 1702 in Avellino, Italy. Donato was a noted merchant who played a significant role in the local economy by facilitating trade between Naples and other European cities. His contributions were recorded in the municipal archives, highlighting the economic development of the area during the early 18th century.
Another prominent figure is Antonio Zarlengo, who lived from 1785 to 1847. Antonio was a notable artist and sculptor from Salerno. His works adorned many churches in the region, and he became well-known for his intricate wood carvings and religious statues, which have been preserved in various Italian museums to this day.
In the 19th century, the surname appears again with Maria Zarlengo, born in 1832 in Benevento. Maria was a celebrated poet whose works explored themes of love, nature, and the struggles of Italian unification. Her poems were published in several literary journals of the time, earning her a respected place in the literary circles of southern Italy.
By the turn of the 20th century, the surname Zarlengo surfaced in the United States, brought over by Italian immigrants seeking better opportunities. One such individual was Pasquale Zarlengo, born in 1881 in Naples and emigrated to the United States in 1902. Pasquale established a successful tailoring business in New York City, contributing to the vibrant Italian-American community in the city.
Another noteworthy person is Giovanni "John" Zarlengo, born in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, to Italian immigrant parents. John Zarlengo served in World War II and later became a distinguished lawyer and community leader. His efforts in advocating for immigrant rights and his numerous contributions to public service have been recognized with several awards and honors.
Throughout history, the surname Zarlengo has been associated with various professions and achievements, reflecting the adaptability and resilience of those who bore the name. The legacy of the Zarlengo surname continues to be remembered through historical records and the accomplishments of its notable bearers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zarlengo
Among Census respondents with the surname Zarlengo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Zarlengo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zarlengo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.5% · 308
- Hispanic or Latino5.4% · 18
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2% · 4
- Two or more races0.9% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zarlengo
Zarlengo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#63,068
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 317
-7 bearers (-2.2%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Down 4,515 places
2020
#64,521
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 333
+16 bearers (+5.0%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Down 1,453 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #58,553 | 324 | 0.12 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #63,068 | 317 | 0.11 | -7 bearers (-2.2%) | Down 4,515 places |
| 2020 | #64,521 | 333 | 0.11 | +16 bearers (+5.0%) | Down 1,453 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zarlengo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #63,068 | #64,521 | -2.3% |
| Count | 317 | 333 | 5.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.11 | 0.11 | 1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zarlengo bearers went from 317 to 333 (+5.0% change). The surname moved down 1,453 positions in the national ranking, going from #63,068 to #64,521.
FAQ
Zarlengo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zarlengo?
Name Census estimates that about 382 living Americans carry the surname Zarlengo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 897,263 residents.
How common is Zarlengo?
Zarlengo ranks #64,521 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 333 people with the surname Zarlengo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (382), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.11 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zarlengo.
Has Zarlengo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zarlengo went from 317 recorded bearers to 333. That is an increase of 16 (+5.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #63,068 to #64,521.
What does the Census say about the background of Zarlengo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zarlengo, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.5%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zarlengo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.5% (308 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zarlengo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.5%), Hispanic (5.4%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zarlengo (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zarlengo mean?
A surname originating from Piedmont, Italy, derived from the place name Zarlengo. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zarlengo (0.11 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Zarlengo?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.