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

Zeferino, 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 Zeferino surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeferino in America

Zeferino is the 32236th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeferino surname appeared 715 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 Zeferino.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeferino 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 Zeferino

The surname Zeferino has its origins in Italy, likely dating back to the late Medieval or early Renaissance period. The name is thought to be derived from the Greek word "zephyros," meaning "west wind" or "breeze," which was later Latinized into "Zephyrus." This etymology suggests that it may have originally been a descriptive surname given to people who lived in breezy or windswept areas, or perhaps it was metaphorical, alluding to a person's gentle disposition.

The regions most commonly associated with the surname Zeferino are in Southern Italy, particularly in areas such as Calabria and Sicily. In these areas, the influence of Greek culture was historically significant, which would account for the Greek roots of the name. Early records of the surname are sparse, but it appears in various medieval manuscripts and local Italian records. There are references to similar spellings like Zefirino or Zeffirino, indicating that the name has undergone minor changes over centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is from the 15th century in Calabria, when Giovanni Zeferino, a merchant, appears in tax records from 1482. Another notable figure with this surname is Paolo Zeferino, an artisan from Sicily whose craftsmanship was mentioned in guild records dating back to 1534. These early examples indicate that the name was already well-established in Southern Italy by this time.

In the 18th century, Enrico Zeferino, a scholar from Naples, gained renown for his contributions to natural philosophy and mathematics. Born in 1721 and dying in 1795, his academic works were widely cited among contemporary scientists and remain influential in the field of natural sciences.

Moving into the 19th century, the name continues to appear in historical records. In 1812, Maria Chiara Zeferino of Reggio Calabria showed up in citizenship records as a prominent landowner and benefactor. Her contributions to local community projects were well-documented, reflecting the prominence of her family in the region.

By the early 20th century, the surname Zeferino had crossed the Atlantic, appearing in immigration records from Ellis Island. Alessandro Zeferino, who emigrated to the United States in 1904, was recorded as a shoemaker from Palermo. His journey reflects broader migration patterns of the time and the spread of the surname beyond its Italian roots.

These historical references highlight the longstanding presence and varied contributions of individuals with the surname Zeferino. From medieval merchants and artisans to scholars and immigrants, the name has a rich history that spans several centuries and diverse social roles.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeferino

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

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

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

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