2000
#140,756
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zelli
Italian surname derived from a plural form of "zella" meaning "pebbles" or "small stones".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 136 Americans carry the last name Zelli. That puts it at #142,788 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,520,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zelli surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
136
1 in 2,520,252
Census rank
#142,788
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
119
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 119 bearers of the surname Zelli in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142788th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zelli, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zelli
The surname Zelli is of Italian origin, appearing primarily in the central regions of Italy, especially Tuscany and Lazio. The name is strongly rooted in medieval times, with records dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. During this period, surnames began to be formalized as populations grew and the need for distinction between individuals became necessary.
Etymologically, the surname Zelli derives from the Italian word "zello," which means "zeal" or "fervor." It may have initially been a nickname for someone who was enthusiastic or passionate. Another theory suggests that it could be a diminutive form of the name Zello, itself derived from an ancient given name derived from the Germanic "Zello," indicating a place name or a characteristic related to the original bearers. Similar spellings include Zello, Zerli, and Celli, indicating a linguistic evolution over time.
Historical references to the surname Zelli can be found in medieval manuscripts and local records. The name appears in land deeds, baptismal registries, and legal documents, indicating the presence of the Zelli family in various Italian communes. One of the earliest recorded instances is from a 1293 document in which a Pietro Zelli is mentioned as a landowner in a small town near Florence.
Famous individuals bearing the surname Zelli have made notable contributions in various fields. Among the earliest known is Giovanni Zelli (1441-1515), a Renaissance scholar and translator of classical texts into Italian. His works contributed significantly to the Humanist movement sweeping across Europe at the time.
Another prominent figure is Lorenzo Zelli (1642-1701), an Italian Baroque painter known for his religious frescoes in churches across Tuscany. His artwork remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the period and showcases the artistic prowess associated with the Zelli name.
In more recent history, Antonio Zelli (1783-1856) gained recognition as a political figure and advocate for Italian unification during the Risorgimento. His writings and speeches inspired many, making him an influential figure in the movement for a unified Italy.
Moving into the 20th century, Maria Zelli (1887-1963), a renowned operatic soprano, rose to fame through her performances in major Italian opera houses. She brought international acclaim to the name through her tours and recordings, introducing the name Zelli to a global audience.
Lastly, Carlo Zelli (1920-1985), a respected Italian mathematician, made significant contributions to number theory and mathematical logic. His academic work and publications have been influential in the field, cementing the Zelli surname as one associated with intellectual achievement.
The surname Zelli, richly steeped in history, spans centuries of cultural, artistic, and intellectual contributions, showcasing the enduring legacy of its bearers.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zelli
Among Census respondents with the surname Zelli, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Zelli bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zelli surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.1% · 112
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 4
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zelli
Zelli appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
-9 bearers (-8.3%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 20,219 places
2020
#142,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 119
+19 bearers (+19.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 18,187 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #140,756 | 109 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | -9 bearers (-8.3%) | Down 20,219 places |
| 2020 | #142,788 | 119 | 0.04 | +19 bearers (+19.0%) | Up 18,187 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zelli surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #160,975 | #142,788 | 11.3% |
| Count | 100 | 119 | 19.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 32.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zelli bearers went from 100 to 119 (+19.0% change). The surname moved up 18,187 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #142,788.
FAQ
Zelli surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zelli?
Name Census estimates that about 136 living Americans carry the surname Zelli. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,520,252 residents.
How common is Zelli?
Zelli ranks #142,788 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 119 people with the surname Zelli. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (136), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zelli.
Has Zelli become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zelli went from 100 recorded bearers to 119. That is an increase of 19 (+19.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #142,788.
What does the Census say about the background of Zelli?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zelli, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zelli in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.1% (112 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zelli appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.1%), Hispanic (3.4%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zelli (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zelli mean?
Italian surname derived from a plural form of "zella" meaning "pebbles" or "small stones". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zelli (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Zelli?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.