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

Zárraga, 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 Zárraga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zárraga in America

Zárraga is the 38389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zárraga surname appeared 577 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 Zárraga.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zárraga 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 Zárraga

The surname Zarraga originates from the Basque Country, a region that spans the border between modern-day Spain and France. This surname is particularly associated with the provinces of Biscay and Gipuzkoa. The name has its roots in the Basque language, known for its ancient and unique linguistic characteristics that are distinct from the Indo-European language family.

The etymology of Zarraga can be traced back to the Basque words zarra, meaning “old,” and aga, which could refer to a “place” or “site.” Essentially, Zarraga might have been used to denote someone who lived near or at an "old place" or "old site," perhaps an ancient settlement or notable landmark.

Historical references to the name Zarraga appear in old records and manuscripts dating back to medieval times. One of the earliest recorded references to this surname appears in a 13th-century document from the region, illustrating its longstanding presence in Basque history. By the 16th century, the name began to appear more frequently in various parish and municipal records throughout the Basque region.

The earliest recorded instances of the Zarraga surname include figures such as Pedro de Zarraga, who was mentioned in 1570 in records from the town of Lekeitio in the province of Biscay. This historical reference suggests that individuals with the surname were involved in local civic and cultural activities.

One notable figure with this surname is Miguel de Zarraga, a 17th-century Spanish soldier and cartographer born in 1635 and died in 1705. His work contributed to the detailed mapping and understanding of the Basque region during his time. Another significant person is Juan de Zarraga, an 18th-century Basque priest and missionary born in 1710, who worked towards the spread of Christianity in Latin America.

In the 19th century, Jon Zarraga (1805-1872), a prominent Basque nationalist and writer, became well-known for his efforts in promoting Basque culture and language during a critical period of political upheaval in Spain. His works remain a reference point for scholars studying Basque nationalism.

Further into the 20th century, Maria Zarraga (1908-1998) emerged as a renowned Basque poet and linguist. Her literary contributions and linguistic studies played a crucial role in preserving the Basque language during the Francoist dictatorship in Spain, when regional languages were heavily suppressed.

Another significant figure is Luis Zarraga, a scientist born in 1932 and known for his groundbreaking research in biochemistry. His efforts and discoveries in the field have been internationally recognized, contributing to the global understanding of biochemical processes.

The surname Zarraga remains a point of cultural and historical significance within the Basque Country and among the Basque diaspora worldwide. Through the centuries, individuals carrying this surname have contributed to a wide range of fields, from cartography and religious missions to poetry and science, ensuring that the name Zarraga holds a distinguished place in history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zárraga

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

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

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

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