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

Zea, 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 Zea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zea in America

Zea is the 20019th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zea surname appeared 1,337 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 Zea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zea 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 Zea

The surname Zea has its origins in Spain, with historical references pointing to regions such as Galicia and Catalonia during the medieval period. The name likely derived from the Spanish word "zea," which means barley. This suggests that the name could have been occupational, referring to individuals who cultivated or traded barley. Variations of this surname have appeared throughout history, reflective of regional dialects and linguistic changes.

One of the earliest references to the surname Zea can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appears in various legal documents and land grants in the region of Galicia. The spelling of the name has largely remained consistent over the centuries, though minor variations like "Zea" and "Zía" have been noted in old manuscripts.

The 15th-century figure Juan de Zea from Catalonia is one of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname. Known for his contributions to local governance and his involvement in trade, Juan de Zea's prominence highlights the occupational roots of the surname.

Another notable individual is Francisco Zea, a Spanish explorer born around 1570, who played a significant role in the exploration of the New World. He served under various expeditions that mapped and established connections between Spain and the Americas.

In the 18th century, the Zea family rose to prominence with Francisco Antonio Zea (1766-1822), a Colombian statesman and botanist. He played a crucial role in Simon Bolívar's revolutionary government, serving as Vice President of Gran Colombia. His scientific and political contributions have left a lasting legacy.

María de Zea Bermúdez, born in 1779 in Spain, also gained historical significance. She was a prominent political figure and diplomat who served as the Spanish ambassador to Russia and the United Kingdom. Her diplomatic efforts were pivotal in strengthening Spain’s international alliances during the early 19th century.

Lastly, Rafael Zea, a 19th-century Chilean poet and writer born in 1845, contributed significantly to South American literature. His works were instrumental in the Romantic literary movement in Chile, and his poetic style and thematic focus continue to influence Latin American literature.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zea

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

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

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

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