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

Zaruba, 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 Zaruba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaruba in America

Zaruba is the 31383rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaruba surname appeared 738 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 Zaruba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaruba 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 Zaruba

The surname Zaruba traces its origins to Eastern Europe, particularly within the territories that are now the Czech Republic. The earliest occurrences of the surname are believed to have emerged around the 14th century. In Czech, the word zarubat means to cut or hew, indicating that the name might have originally referred to someone involved in woodcutting, a carpenter, or someone who worked with an axe. The linguistic roots suggest an occupational heritage, typical of many surnames developed during the medieval period.

The regions associated with the surname Zaruba would have been areas where Slavic languages were spoken, encompassing parts of Bohemia and Moravia. Old records and manuscripts from these regions, though not specifically mentioning the name Zaruba, often enumerate occupational titles and community roles, which align with the etymological origin of the name. Variants of the surname, such as Zarub and Zarubin, can also be found in Russian and Ukrainian records, indicating some geographical and cultural diffusion.

Historical references to the name Zaruba appear in various regional documents from the 15th and 16th centuries. The name was recorded in land registries and taxation rolls, reflecting the administrative documentation practices of that era. One of the earliest concrete examples can be traced to a 1523 land purchase document in Moravia, where a Petr Zaruba is listed as a party.

Among notable individuals bearing this surname, Václav Zaruba, born in 1791, is significant for his contributions to Moravian folk music. He is remembered for collecting and preserving traditional songs and dances. Another important figure is Jan Zaruba, a 16th-century municipal leader in Bohemia, who played a role in local governance during the turbulent period of the Protestant Reformation.

In more recent centuries, Karolina Zaruba, born in 1823, was a Czech writer and poet, contributing to the Czech National Revival movement. Her works often centered on themes of national identity and cultural heritage. Moving into the 20th century, Rudolf Zaruba, a recognized artist born in 1888, became known for his impressionist paintings which were showcased in galleries across Central Europe, marking a significant departure from the traditional occupational origins of the surname.

Lastly, in the 19th century, records from the Austro-Hungarian military lists frequently mentioned soldiers with the surname Zaruba, such as Jozef Zaruba, who served in the infantry and was commended for his service in 1848. These instances underscore the diverse paths that individuals with this surname have navigated through history, reflecting the intertwining of personal identity with broader historical currents.

The name Zaruba has thus traveled through various epochs, reflecting both its occupational roots and the historical narratives of the regions from which it originated. Each mention in historical records not only confirms the existence of the name but also adds layers to its rich tapestry. Through centuries, the bearers of this surname have contributed to the cultural and social fabric of Eastern Europe in significant ways.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaruba

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

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

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

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