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

Zephyr, 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 Zephyr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zephyr in America

Zephyr is the 79338th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zephyr surname appeared 240 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 Zephyr.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zephyr 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 Zephyr

The surname Zephyr is a relatively uncommon name with roots that trace back to ancient Greece. Originating from the Greek word "Zephyros," which means "west wind," the name itself was emblematic of the gentle, favorable winds that were often associated with the west in Greek mythology. Zephyros was considered one of the Anemoi, the gods of the winds, and held a special significance among seafaring and agricultural communities.

The earliest documentation of the name, in its original form, can be linked to ancient Greece around the 5th century BCE, reflected in various mythological texts and fragments. While direct records from this period are scarce, references in classical literature allude to the reverence of the west wind and, by extension, those bearing derivatives of the name.

In medieval Europe, particularly during the Renaissance, the name Zephyr started to appear sporadically in various parts of Italy and southern France, likely reintroduced in the wake of the renewed interest in classical antiquity. Variants of the name were recorded in manuscripts and records in southern European countries where Greek and Roman influences were particularly strong.

One of the earliest bearers of the surname recorded in historical documents was Lorenzo Zephyr, a Venetian merchant, whose name appeared in port and trade ledgers from 1542. Another notable figure was Isabella Zephyr, a noblewoman mentioned in the records of a Milanese court during the late 16th century, around 1583.

The surname spread over the centuries, making its way into England during the late 17th century, likely carried by migration and trade. Thomas Zephyr, an English botanist born in 1678, is noted for his contributions to early plant taxonomy and is often cited in botanical texts from the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, Eugène Zephyr, a French philosopher and author born in 1815, became well-known for his writings on metaphysics and natural philosophy. His works were influential in academic circles of his time and contributed to the intellectual discourse of that era.

One more historical figure worth mentioning is Victoriano Zephyr, a Spanish artist who lived from 1860 to 1922. He was particularly renowned for his impressionist paintings that captured the light and landscapes of the Mediterranean coast, his works still celebrated in Spanish art history.

The surname Zephyr, though not widespread, carries a rich historical tapestry, influenced by its mythological origins and made prominent by various figures throughout European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zephyr

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

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

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

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