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

Zephir, 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 Zephir surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zephir in America

Zephir is the 56073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zephir surname appeared 365 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 Zephir.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zephir 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 Zephir

The surname Zephir is believed to have its origins in the Mediterranean region, particularly France and the surrounding areas. First records suggest that the name began to appear in the late medieval period, around the 14th century. Derived from the ancient Greek term "Zephyros", meaning "west wind", the name could have been adopted by families living in regions influenced by Greco-Roman culture or those involved in seafaring, which often relied on understanding wind patterns.

The old French spelling "Zéphyr" also points to the surname’s origins and its transformation over time. References to the name Zephir appear in early parish records and legal documents of the 16th century, indicating that it was already in use by then. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name appears in a French baptismal register from 1551, noting the birth of Lucien Zephir in the town of Marseille.

Another significant historical bearer of the surname is Guillaume Zephir, a notable 17th-century French merchant documented in trade ledgers from the port city of Bordeaux. Guillaume Zephir played a significant role in the naval trade between France and the North African coast, which helped to disseminate the family name along the Mediterranean trade routes during that period.

The name gradually made its way to the Caribbean during the age of colonial expansion. One notable figure is Charles Zephir, born in 1785 in Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti), who was a notable figure during the Haitian Revolution. His contributions to the liberation efforts are recorded in several historical accounts, highlighting the widespread dissemination of the surname beyond its European origins.

Much later, in the 19th century, the surname Zephir appears in the records of New Orleans, specifically in the marriage of Emile Zephir in 1873, a reflection of the name’s journey through various cultures and continents. His descendants continued to populate the region, contributing to the local Creole society.

Antoine Zephir, another notable individual from the early 20th century, was an artist born in Martinique in 1903. His works were widely acclaimed for their depiction of Caribbean life and culture, further cementing the legacy of the Zephir surname. His death in 1962 marked the end of a significant cultural chapter for the name.

Throughout history, the surname Zephir has traveled across different regions and cultures, yet consistently retains its connection to the Mediterranean winds, symbolizing the numerous journeys of those who bore the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zephir

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

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

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

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