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

Zarrelli, 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 Zarrelli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zarrelli in America

Zarrelli is the 90853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zarrelli surname appeared 203 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 Zarrelli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zarrelli 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 Zarrelli

The surname Zarrelli is believed to have its origins in Italy, specifically in the southern regions such as Calabria or Campania. The name likely emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th or 15th century. It is a name deeply rooted in the Romance languages derived from Latin, and it is characteristic of the naming customs prevalent in those particular areas at the time.

The etymology of Zarrelli is not fully clear, but it may be derived from a diminutive or variation of an earlier, perhaps now-obsolete name or word. It could be connected to the Italian word zara, meaning mischievous or playful, though this is speculative. Alternatively, Zarrelli might derive from a regional dialect word or a personal name that has evolved over the centuries. Similar surnames in regional historical records include Zarrello and Zarella, indicating a common linguistic root.

Historical references to the surname Zarrelli are sparse but existent. One of the earliest records of a person with this surname is Giovanni Zarrelli, who appeared in the parish records of Naples in 1572. This suggests that the name was established among the populace by the 16th century. The name also appears in 17th-century notarial deeds in the Province of Salerno, demonstrating its spread across southern Italy.

Further instances of the surname can be found in various historical contexts. For example, Marco Zarrelli, born in 1643 and died in 1712, was a noted local merchant in Salerno. His trading activities across the Mediterranean documented in commercial records of the time indicate the family's involvement in business and regional trade networks. Another prominent figure was Father Antonio Zarrelli, born in 1725, who contributed to religious and educational institutions in Calabria, leaving behind a series of theological writings and parish records.

During the 19th century, the surname began to make appearances in emigration records, as many families moved to the Americas seeking better opportunities. Among these early emigrants was Rosalia Zarrelli, born in 1809 in Campania, who settled in New York in 1847 and became part of the burgeoning Italian-American community.

By studying genealogical and historical documents, it is also possible to highlight Francesco Zarrelli, born in 1835, who was an influential lawyer and political figure in Naples. His legal expertise and involvement in regional politics are documented in the Italian archives of the Risorgimento period.

In summary, the surname Zarrelli has a rich history intertwining with the regional developments of southern Italy and its diaspora. From its speculative etymological roots to various notable individuals, the surname carries a legacy reflective of its geographic and cultural origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zarrelli

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!