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

Zeitoun, 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 Zeitoun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeitoun in America

Zeitoun is the 94730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeitoun surname appeared 193 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 Zeitoun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeitoun 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 Zeitoun

The surname Zeitoun has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Levant region encompassing modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The name Zeitoun is derived from the Arabic word "zaytoun," which means "olive," a reference to the olive trees that are abundant in this region. The cultivation of olives has been a significant aspect of Middle Eastern culture and economy for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various manuscripts and records from the medieval period. Olive cultivation and trade were critical components of the economy and society, leading families closely associated with this industry to adopt Zeitoun as a surname. Early instances of the name appear in trade documents and land records, indicating the importance of olive groves and the families that owned them.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Zeitoun can be traced back to the 12th century in the city of Tripoli, Lebanon. During this period, Tripoli was a thriving center of trade and culture. An individual by the name of Yusuf Zeitoun was documented as a landowner whose family was known for extensive olive oil production. This reflects the agrarian society's reliance on olive trees and the prestige it brought to families involved in this trade.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Ahmad Zeitoun is mentioned in the historical records of Damascus, Syria. Ahmad was a respected merchant who expanded his family's olive oil export business. His efforts helped solidify the family's standing within the mercantile community and contributed to the spread of the surname across the region.

Another notable bearer of the surname is Fatima Zeitoun, a 15th-century Palestinian poet whose works focused on the natural beauty of her homeland, frequently referencing olive groves as symbols of peace and prosperity. Her poetry remains celebrated in Palestinian literary circles today.

In the early 19th century, a man named Elias Zeitoun became a well-known figure in Beirut. Elias was a scholar and educator who published several works on agronomy, particularly focusing on the benefits and techniques of olive cultivation. His contributions to agricultural science were significant during a time when the region was undergoing modernization.

A more recent historical figure is Jamal Zeitoun, born in 1895 in Haifa. Jamal was instrumental in establishing cooperative farming communities that emphasized sustainable agricultural practices. His leadership during the British Mandate period in Palestine highlighted the continued importance of olive farming to regional identity and economic stability.

Across the centuries, the surname Zeitoun has consistently been associated with olive cultivation and trade, symbolizing its deep cultural and economic roots in the Middle East. The name endures as a testament to the longstanding heritage and enduring livelihoods that have shaped the region's history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeitoun

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

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

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

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