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

Zerda, 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 Zerda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zerda in America

Zerda is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zerda surname appeared 118 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 Zerda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zerda 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 Zerda

The surname Zerda has origins that trace back to the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Spain. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. It is commonly believed that Zerda might be derived from a combination of old Spanish words or could be a variation of the Arabic word "sardā", which implies a place of refuge or a hidden, secluded area. This etymological root suggests a historical linkage to areas under Moorish influence in Spain.

The name Zerda first appears in historical records from regions like Andalusia and Castile. Manuscripts from the 13th century, such as the Libro de Repartimiento, mention families with similar-sounding names including Cerdas or de Cerdas, which could be a phonetic evolution of Zerda. These records were typically land grants given to nobility and knights for their services during the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Spain from Muslim rule.

In the 15th century, the name Zerda appears in legal documents and church registries, particularly in the region of Toledo. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is Alonso de Zerda, born in 1467, who is noted in a 1492 document concerning land ownership. This suggests that the family held some level of prestige and land during that time.

Moving into the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Zerda followed Spanish explorers and settlers to the New World. In the Americas, individuals bearing the surname could be found in colonial records from South America. One notable figure is Juan de Zerda, born in 1555, who served as a colonial administrator in what is now Colombia. His contributions to the colonial administration were recorded in the Archivo General de Indias.

In the subsequent centuries, the surname continued to establish itself. Santiago Zerda, born in 1623, was a prominent figure in the Peruvian mining industry during the mid-1600s. His legacy included several written correspondences preserved in Peruvian archives, which provide insights into the mining operations and economic conditions of the time.

Another distinguished individual was Maria de Zerda, born in 1741 in Mexico City, who was noted for her charitable works and contributions to local religious institutions. Her involvement in the establishment of schools and orphanages is detailed in various historical religious texts of the late 18th century.

By the 19th century, the Zerda name had spread further across the Americas. José Ignacio Zerda, born in 1819, was a notable military figure during the wars of independence in South America. His military service and strategic planning are detailed in numerous military records and biographies from that era.

The surname Zerda has a rich and varied history, with roots that suggest a composite linguistic and cultural origin. Through various historical records and noteworthy individuals, the name Zerda is preserved as a testament to the familial and cultural legacy spanning from medieval Spain to colonial and post-colonial Latin America.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zerda

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!