2010
#145,220
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zerga
Derived from the Arabic word "zarqa" meaning "blue-eyed" or "blue" in reference to eye color.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Zerga. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zerga surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Zerga in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zerga, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.2%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Hispanic (10.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zerga
The surname Zerga traces its origins to the Iberian Peninsula, specifically Spain. The name is believed to have medieval roots, likely appearing around the 12th to 14th centuries. It is associated with several regions in Spain, particularly in the Basque Country and Navarre. The name Zerga may derive from the Basque word zerge, which translates to taxes or tributes, indicating a possible connection to tax collectors or those involved in administrative roles.
In medieval times, names derived from occupations or administrative tasks were common, reflecting the roles and social standings of individuals within their communities. The areas where Zerga appears were known for their distinct cultural and linguistic heritage, where surnames retained unique forms and meanings.
Historical records show the surname Zerga in various manuscripts and local documents. One of the earliest references appears in a 14th-century Navarrese record, detailing the land ownership and tax responsibilities of a family bearing the name. This aligns with the occupational implication of the surname related to tax collection or financial duties.
Among the earliest notable individuals with the surname is Juan de Zerga, born around 1450, who served as a local administrator in the Basque region. His responsibilities included overseeing the collection of tributes and managing regional finances.
The name appears in the 16th-century records, with María de Zerga, a known landowner in Navarre. Her documented transactions involving significant tracts of land indicate the family's continued prominence and influence in local economic affairs.
In the 17th century, Martín Zerga emerged as a notable figure in Spanish military history. Born in 1632, he served as a captain in the Spanish army during the Thirty Years' War, reflecting the family's involvement in broader historical events beyond local administration.
Another prominent individual, Pedro Zerga, was a prominent lawyer and jurist in the Basque Country during the late 18th century. Born in 1765, his legal expertise and influential position highlight the continued prominence of the Zerga name in administrative and legal circles.
Finally, the Zerga surname also appears in early 19th-century literature, with José Antonio Zerga, born in 1797, known for his poetry and contributions to Basque cultural heritage. His works often touched upon themes of identity and regional pride, showcasing the cultural significance attached to the Zerga name.
Overall, the Zerga surname encapsulates a rich history rooted in administrative roles and regional influence, with notable individuals contributing to various aspects of Spanish and Basque history throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zerga
Among Census respondents with the surname Zerga, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.2%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Hispanic (10.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zerga bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zerga surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White69.2% · 83
- Black or African American11.7% · 14
- Hispanic or Latino10.8% · 13
- Two or more races5.0% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zerga
Zerga appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+6 bearers (+5.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 3,171 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #145,220 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.3%) | Up 3,171 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zerga surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #145,220 | #142,049 | 2.2% |
| Count | 114 | 120 | 5.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zerga bearers went from 114 to 120 (+5.3% change). The surname moved up 3,171 positions in the national ranking, going from #145,220 to #142,049.
FAQ
Zerga surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zerga?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Zerga. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Zerga?
Zerga ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Zerga. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zerga.
Has Zerga become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zerga went from 114 recorded bearers to 120. That is an increase of 6 (+5.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #145,220 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Zerga?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zerga, the largest self-reported group is White at 69.2%. The next largest groups are Black (11.7%) and Hispanic (10.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zerga in the 2020 Census, accounting for 69.2% (83 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zerga appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (69.2%), Black (11.7%), Hispanic (10.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zerga (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zerga mean?
Derived from the Arabic word "zarqa" meaning "blue-eyed" or "blue" in reference to eye color. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zerga (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zerga?
Find out how many people have the surname Zerga on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.