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

Zelonis, 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 Zelonis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zelonis in America

Zelonis is the 79075th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zelonis surname appeared 241 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 Zelonis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zelonis 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 Zelonis

The surname ZELONIS is believed to originate from Eastern Europe, primarily from Lithuania. The name has linguistic roots in the Lithuanian language, which is one of the oldest Indo-European languages still in use today. It is derived from the root word "zele", which means "green" in Lithuanian. This suggests a connection to nature, indicating that the surname may have initially referred to someone who lived near a green, forested area or was closely associated with greenery.

The earliest records of the surname ZELONIS date back to the 15th century. Medieval Lithuanian manuscripts from this period sporadically mention families with this surname, often recording land grants or other legal documents. One such document from 1487 lists a Petras Zelonis as a landowner in the Vilnius region. This indicates that the family had established a certain degree of prominence and land ownership relatively early in Lithuanian history.

One of the most notable historical references to the surname ZELONIS comes from the 16th century, in the context of the Lithuanian nobility. A 1522 registry lists a nobleman named Andrius Zelonis, who served as a local magistrate. His role in administrative duties underscores the family's increasing influence and integration into the societal elite of the time. The surname appears in varied spellings in historical texts, including Zelonis and Zelonis, which was a common phenomenon due to the lack of standardized spelling practices.

Another significant figure is Juozas Zelonis, a celebrated Lithuanian patriot and soldier born around 1730, who played a crucial role during the Great Northern War. His valor and leadership in battles were well documented, and his legacy was remembered in folk tales and historical writings. His contributions to Lithuania's military history have secured his name a lasting place in the annals of the country's heritage.

In the 19th century, one of the prominent personalities bearing the surname ZELONIS was Kazimieras Zelonis, an influential political thinker and writer. Born in 1821, he was a fervent advocate for Lithuanian independence during the period of Russian occupation. His published works and political pamphlets were critical in shaping public opinion and fueling the nationalistic movements that eventually led to Lithuania's brief independence in the early 20th century.

The surname Zelonis also made its mark in academia, with figures such as Elzbieta Zelonis, an esteemed historian born in 1875, who extensively researched and published on Lithuanian medieval history. Her scholarly contributions have been pivotal in preserving the cultural and historical narratives of Lithuania, and her works continue to be referenced by modern historians.

The Zelonis name carries with it a rich history marked by nobility, military valor, political activism, and scholarly contributions. It is deeply engrained in Lithuanian heritage and reflects the multifaceted roles that its bearers have played over the centuries in shaping the socio-political and cultural landscapes of their country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zelonis

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

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

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

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