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

Zaza, 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 Zaza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zaza in America

Zaza is the 69996th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zaza surname appeared 280 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 Zaza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zaza 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 Zaza

The surname Zaza has its origins predominantly in the Caucasus region, particularly associated with the Zaza people who are an ethnic and linguistic minority in eastern Turkey. The Zaza people primarily inhabit the provinces of Tunceli, Bingöl, and parts of Diyarbakır. The name itself is believed to have originated from the Zazaki language, which belongs to the Northwestern Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian languages. The term Zaza might derive from an ancient name or word specific to this ethnic group.

Records and historical references to the Zaza surname are somewhat scarce due to the Zaza people's historical background and the complexities of record-keeping in the regions they inhabit. However, the name does appear in various historical documents and records pertinent to the areas of eastern Turkey from around the 10th century onwards. It is not uncommon in regional manuscripts dealing with local governance and census activities, although the exact origins remain somewhat obscure, given the oral traditions of many indigenous groups.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Zaza is Mehmed Zaza, a local chieftain recorded in regional Ottoman records from the 16th century. His influence was noted in the governance of Tunceli, reflecting the integration of local leaders within the broader administrative frameworks of the Ottoman Empire.

Another significant historical figure is Hajji Suleyman Zaza, a prominent spiritual leader from the Bingöl region, born circa 1780 and believed to have died around 1850. He was influential in promoting the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Zaza people, and his contributions to local folklore are well-documented.

Halil Zaza, a noted historian born in 1892, also hails from this region. His works on the socio-cultural dynamics of eastern Anatolia during the early 20th century remain an essential resource for understanding the historical context of the Zaza people and their name. His scholarly contributions have helped preserve many aspects of Zaza culture and identity.

Musa Zaza, an educator, and poet born in 1874, significantly impacted the literary culture of the eastern provinces. His poetry, often written in Zazaki, shed light on the struggles and beauty of life in this diverse and historically rich area. Musa's works remain celebrated in the local literary tradition.

In modern history, Ferhat Zaza, born in 1954, became notable in the political arena as an advocate for the rights of the Zaza people within Turkey. His political career was marked by efforts to promote greater recognition and autonomy for ethnic minorities and to preserve the Zazaki language and cultural practices.

The surname Zaza, thus, encapsulates a rich tapestry of ethnic, cultural, and historical significance rooted deeply in the Caucasus region, particularly eastern Turkey. The illustrious bearers of the name have contributed to various fields, from governance and spirituality to academia, literature, and politics, thereby ensuring that the legacy of the Zaza people continues to be remembered and cherished through history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zaza

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

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

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

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