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

Zavaglia, 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 Zavaglia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zavaglia in America

Zavaglia is the 72332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zavaglia surname appeared 269 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 Zavaglia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zavaglia 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 Zavaglia

The surname Zavaglia originates from Italy, specifically within the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy. The name appears to have its roots in the Medieval period, roughly around the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from Old Italian, possibly linked to the word "zavaglia," meaning a knapsack or a small pouch, hinting at a profession or characteristic associated with carrying goods or items.

Historical records from the 14th century indicate that the Zavaglia family was present in the documents of Modena, a city in Emilia-Romagna. The name appears in various forms over time, including Zavaglio and Zavagli. An early reference to the name can be found in a 1427 census record in Florence, where a Francesco Zavaglia is listed as a merchant.

During the Renaissance, a prominent figure by the name of Giovanni Zavaglia was noted for his contributions to the arts and literature in the late 15th century. Born in 1463 and passing away in 1520, Giovanni was known for his poetic works and was a contemporary of famed authors like Ludovico Ariosto.

In the 17th century, records show the Zavaglia name appearing in the ducal archives of Parma. Within these documents, a Leonardo Zavaglia, born in 1618 and died in 1682, was mentioned as a prominent landowner and local magistrate, indicating the family's rise to local significance.

The Zavaglia surname also appears in ecclesiastical records. In 1751, a Father Pietro Zavaglia, born in 1697 and died in 1765, served as the parish priest in a small town near Bologna. His involvement in local religious and social matters is well-documented, contributing to the communal life of the area.

In the early 19th century, another notable figure was Carlo Zavaglia, a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars. Born in 1782 and died in 1850, he served as a captain in the Italian contingent of Napoleon's army. His military career is recorded in several military dispatches and personal letters held in Italian historical military archives.

Throughout history, the Zavaglia surname has made its mark in various facets of society, from the arts and literature to religion and military service. Despite varying spellings and regional dispersals, the family's roots can be traced back to the heart of medieval Italy, showcasing a rich tapestry of historical contributions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zavaglia

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

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

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

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