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

Zerilli, 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 Zerilli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zerilli in America

Zerilli is the 51610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zerilli surname appeared 403 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 Zerilli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zerilli 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 Zerilli

The surname Zerilli has its origins in Italy, specifically in the southern regions. Emerging during the late Middle Ages, the name is believed to be derived from the Italian word "zerrillo," which itself is a diminutive form of "zerra," a term indicating a saw or cutting tool, pointing to an ancestral occupation related to woodworking or metalworking. Alternate spellings such as Zerrilli or Zerillo have also been documented, reflecting regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions.

Historical records and manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries indicate the presence of the Zerilli family in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. One of the earliest known references is in a 1422 land grant in Palermo, where a Giacomo Zerilli is listed as a landholder. This suggests the family had attained a certain level of prominence and affluence.

In 1521, another notable Zerilli, Michele Zerilli, is recorded in Naples as a merchant engaging in trade throughout the Mediterranean. His business records, preserved in the archives of Naples, provide valuable insights into the trade networks of the period and the family's role within them.

The name appears again in the mid-17th century with Tommaso Zerilli, born in 1643 in Messina. Tommaso was a renowned sculptor whose works can still be seen in various churches and public buildings throughout Sicily. His contributions to Baroque art during his lifetime, which ended in 1695, cemented the Zerilli name in the cultural history of the region.

In the 18th century, Pietro Zerilli, born in 1710, moved to Rome and established himself as a prominent lawyer and legal scholar. His legal treatises, particularly those on maritime law, were influential in the jurisprudence of the time. Pietro Zerilli's death in 1782 marked the end of a significant chapter in the family's intellectual legacy.

The Zerilli name surfaces again in the 19th century with Giuseppe Zerilli, born in 1835 in Catania. Giuseppe became a noted revolutionary figure during the Italian unification movement. His participation in several key uprisings against the Bourbon monarchy made him a local hero, although he died in exile in 1877.

Throughout these centuries, the Zerilli surname has been associated with various professions and arts, reflecting the diverse talents and societal contributions of the family. The rich and varied history of the name highlights the enduring legacy of the Zerilli family across generations and regions in Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zerilli

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

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

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

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