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

Zarrella, 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 Zarrella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zarrella in America

Zarrella is the 36426th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zarrella surname appeared 614 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 Zarrella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zarrella 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 Zarrella

The surname Zarrella has its origins in Italy, specifically in the southern regions of the country. The name is believed to have originated in the late medieval period, approximately around the 14th century. Southern Italy, particularly areas like Campania and Calabria, is a region where surnames often derived from locations, occupations, or personal characteristics.

The name Zarrella is derived from the Italian word "zarro," which refers to branches or twigs. The suffix "ella" is a diminutive form, implying a smaller or affectionate version of the root word. Therefore, Zarrella might originally have referred to someone who lived near a notable grove or woodland area, or possibly someone who worked with wood or branches.

One of the earliest references to the surname Zarrella appears in ecclesiastical records from the region of Campania in the late 15th century. Parish registers from the this period list a Giovanni Zarrella, born in 1487, who was noted for his contributions to the local church and community.

In historical documents from the 16th century, the name appears again with Francesco Zarrella, an artisan known for his woodcarving skills. His works were highly regarded, and some of his carvings can still be found in churches in Naples, suggesting that the name Zarrella might also be tied to families engaged in fine craftsmanship.

During the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the surname is Paolo Zarrella, born in 1623, who served as a legal advisor in the court of the Kingdom of Naples. His legal writings and advisements are still preserved in the archives, showcasing a legacy of intellect and service to the state.

Moving into the 18th century, another member of this lineage, Maria Zarrella, born in 1751, gained recognition for her charitable work. She established schools and aid centers for the underprivileged in Calabria, showing that the name Zarrella has been associated with philanthropy and community service throughout history.

In the 19th century, with the rise of Italian emigrants moving to the Americas, the surname Zarrella also traveled overseas. Pasquale Zarrella, who was born in 1835 and migrated to New York around 1860, is recorded as one of the early Italian settlers contributing to the growth and culture of Italian-American communities.

These historical records indicate that the surname Zarrella has been borne by individuals known for their craftsmanship, intellect, legal expertise, philanthropy, and immigrant contributions. Overall, Zarrella is a name rich in history and indicative of a lineage that has made significant contributions over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zarrella

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

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

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

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