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

Zeolla, 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 Zeolla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zeolla in America

Zeolla is the 62189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zeolla surname appeared 322 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 Zeolla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zeolla 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 Zeolla

The surname Zeolla has its origins in Italy, particularly from the southern regions such as Calabria and Campania. This surname is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 14th centuries. The areas where the name originally appeared were often rural and agricultural, which were common settings for many Italian surnames to evolve from descriptions of geography or occupations.

The name Zeolla is thought to be derived from an old Italian word or perhaps a dialectical variation that has lost its direct meaning to modern ears. The suffix "-ella" often implies a diminutive or affectionate form in Italian, while "Ze-" could be related to a given name, place, or even a characteristic, though its exact origin remains obscure in historical linguistics.

Historical references to the name Zeolla can be found in various ecclesiastical records and land registries from the 15th and 16th centuries. Church documents such as baptismal, marriage, and burial records in small towns and parishes are primary sources for early mentions of the name. For instance, one of the earliest recorded examples is Marco Zeolla, mentioned in a 1542 baptismal record from a parish in the province of Cosenza in Calabria.

The name also appeared in notarial documents, which often listed property transactions, dowries, and legal proceedings involving families. In 1623, a Luca Zeolla is mentioned in a notarial act in the town of Avellino in Campania, dealing with land inheritance issues. During the Italian Renaissance, some members of the Zeolla family could be seen as minor nobility or wealthy landowners, particularly in the Campania region.

Place names and their older spellings have seldom been directly attributed to the surname Zeolla. However, it's likely that the name is locational or descriptive, referring to a small geographical feature or a diminutive form of another location-based surname. Variations of the surname have appeared over the centuries, including Zolla and Zeole, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling in historical records.

One notable bearer of the name was Giacomo Zeolla, born in 1768 in Naples, who became a well-known merchant and philanthropist. His contributions to local history included funding the construction of a small chapel and endowing scholarships for poor children in his community, a practice recorded in the municipal archives of Naples.

Another prominent figure was Maria Antonia Zeolla, born in 1823, who was a significant landowner in Calabria and known for her efforts in improving agricultural practices. She played an important role in the modernization of farming techniques in her region during the mid-19th century. The local history books of small hinterland towns in Calabria frequently mention her contributions to education and social welfare.

During the late 19th century, Gennaro Zeolla, born in 1845, emigrated to Argentina and became a known figure in the Italian immigrant community in Buenos Aires. His correspondence and written works provide valuable insights into the experiences of Italian immigrants during this period. Gennaro's descendants continued to be influential within the Italian-Argentinian community, contributing to cultural and social organizations.

Throughout history, the name Zeolla has been borne by individuals who often played significant roles in their local communities, with records indicating their involvement in various aspects of rural and urban development. The apparent rarity and regional concentration of the name suggest a strong familial and geographical connection that has persisted through centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zeolla

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

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

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

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