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

Zelina, 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 Zelina surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zelina in America

Zelina is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zelina surname appeared 229 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 Zelina.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zelina 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 Zelina

The surname Zelina is believed to have its origins in Slavic-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in what is present-day Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The time period in which the surname first emerged dates back to the Middle Ages, roughly between the 12th and 15th centuries. Historically, these areas were rife with small villages and agricultural communities where surnames often derived from local geographical features, occupations, or personal characteristics.

The name Zelina likely derives from the Slavic word "zel," meaning "green" or "grass," suggesting an association with nature, greenery, or possibly a person who lived near verdant meadows or pastures. Old records and historical documents from these regions point to similar spellings such as Zelinka or Zelinski, which share similar roots and meanings. Manuscripts from the medieval period, including land grants and tax records, occasionally list surnames of individuals, and Zelina appears in some of these as early as the 14th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zelina comes from a 1398 land document in what is now the Czech Republic, where a Petrus Zelina is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by that time and may have been associated with local landowners or notable individuals in the community. Similarly, a 1452 record from Poland mentions a Jakub Zelinski, showing the surname’s slight variation and indicating its presence in the region.

A notable figure with the surname is Jan Zelina, a 16th-century Slovak poet born in 1510 and died in 1578, known for his contributions to early Slavic literature. His works were among the first to use the vernacular language, making significant cultural impacts. In the 17th century, Antonín Zelina, born in 1625 in what is now the Czech Republic and died in 1689, was a prominent landowner and merchant whose business dealings are well-documented in regional trade records.

Moving into the 18th century, Maria Zelina (born in 1732, died in 1794) gained some local fame in Slovakia as a healer and midwife whose life and practices were recorded in local church archives. Her skills were widely known, and she played a crucial role in the community’s healthcare. In the early 19th century, a master carpenter named Václav Zelina, born in 1805 and died in 1873, became known for his work in Prague, contributing to several significant architectural projects of the period.

By the 19th century, migrations due to political upheavals and economic opportunities had spread the surname Zelina to other parts of Europe and even to North America. Documents from the late 19th and early 20th centuries show the surname appearing in immigration records, particularly through Ellis Island, as families sought new lives abroad.

Throughout its history, the surname Zelina has maintained its roots in Slavic culture, carrying with it a legacy linked to the natural environment and the professions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zelina

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

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

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

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