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

Zaro, 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 Zaro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaro in America

Zaro is the 40856th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaro surname appeared 534 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 Zaro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaro 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 Zaro

The surname Zaro likely finds its origins in Italy. The earliest known appearance of the surname occurred in regions such as Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern parts of Italy known for their rich history and cultural heritage. The name Zaro possibly derives from the Italian word "zara," which means "a wild boar," indicating that it could have originally been a nickname for a person who was either a hunter or possessed wild, untamed characteristics. Another potential origin is from the now obsolete term "zaro" in Italian, which meant "empty" or "void," perhaps referring to a stretch of land or describing someone with an empty purse or lacking resources.

Historical references to the surname Zaro can be traced back to medieval documents and church records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For instance, a document from 1325 refers to a Giovanni Zaro as a landowner in the Veneto region. This early recording indicates that the Zaro family was already established and held property, showing a degree of social and economic status. In the 15th century, a well-documented instance is the mention of Matteo Zaro, born in 1404 and active in local politics in the city of Udine. He played a role in negotiating peace treaties, indicating a degree of influence in civic affairs.

The surname Zaro continued to appear in significant historical contexts over the centuries. In 1698, a record lists Giuseppe Zaro as a master carpenter involved in the restoration of a cathedral in Trieste. His contributions were invaluable to the preservation of historical religious architecture, earning him posthumous recognition by local historians. Furthermore, the late 1700s saw a notable individual, Ludovico Zaro, born in 1772, an artist whose works contributed to the Baroque movement in Northern Italy. His paintings, characterized by their dynamic composition and vivid details, are still studied and admired by art historians today.

In the 19th century, the name crossed the Atlantic with the waves of Italian immigration to the Americas. Carlo Zaro, born in 1835, is a significant figure from this period. He emigrated to Argentina in 1860 and became a successful merchant in Buenos Aires. His business acumen and contributions to the local Italian community earned him a prominent place in the history of Italian-Argentine relations. The early 20th century saw another prominent individual, Dr. Antonio Zaro, born in 1888, who became a leading figure in medical research in Italy, contributing significantly to advancements in the field of bacteriology.

While these are merely snapshots of individuals bearing the surname Zaro, they illustrate the name's historical depth and geographic diffusion. From its likely Italian origins, associated with diverse meanings, and its appearances in various historical documents, the Zaro surname reflects a rich and multifaceted legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaro

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

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

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

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