2000
#17,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,515
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.56
Rare Last name
Zertuche
An uncommon Spanish surname possibly related to the word "zurzir" meaning to stitch or sew.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,139 Americans carry the last name Zertuche. That puts it at #15,174 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 160,240 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zertuche 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
2.1K
1 in 160,240
Census rank
#15,174
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,865 bearers of the surname Zertuche in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15174th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zertuche, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.2%. The next largest groups are White (9.7%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zertuche
The surname Zertuche has its origins in Spain and is particularly associated with the region of Cantabria in the northern part of the country. The earliest reference to the name dates back to the late Middle Ages, approximately around the 15th century. Zertuche is believed to derive from the Basque word "Zarautz" or "Zarautza," which means "field" or “meadow.” The importation of this surname into Spain suggests a connection to areas where the Basque language and culture had influence.
Historical records indicate that the Zertuche surname appeared in several medieval manuscripts in Cantabria. The name was associated with minor nobility and local gentry who held lands in the region. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in a census from 1492, listing Alonzo de Zertuche, a landowner in Cantabria, as one of the prominent figures in the area.
Another notable person bearing the Zertuche surname is Juan de Zertuche, who was born in 1550 and played a significant role in Spanish history as a colonial administrator in the New World. He was known for his contributions to the early colonial administration in Mexico, where he served as a governor in the early 1600s. Juan de Zertuche's efforts in the administration and organization of new colonies were well documented, showing the spread of this surname beyond the Spanish mainland to its colonies.
The name also appears in historical documents related to land grants and noble lineage. In the 17th century, Isabel de Zertuche, born in 1623, was recorded as receiving a significant land grant from the Spanish crown. This record not only signifies the family's continued prominence but also their loyalty and service to the monarchy during a period of territorial expansion.
The surname further appears in the annals of military history. Diego de Zertuche, born in 1681, was a noted military officer who served in the Spanish Army during the early 18th century. His participation in several campaigns, including the War of Spanish Succession, earned him recognition and commendation, highlighting the name in military archives and historic registers.
By the 19th century, the Zertuche name continued to surface in historical documents. Maria de la Luz Zertuche, born in 1805, was a prominent social figure in Madrid, known for her patronage of the arts and support for cultural institutions. Her involvement in various charitable organizations and cultural patronage is recorded in various societal and historical accounts of the period.
The origin and legacy of the Zertuche surname reflect a rich historical tapestry of nobility, military service, colonial administration, and cultural patronage, making it an integral part of the historical narrative of Spain and its former colonies. Each historical figure bearing the surname Zertuche contributed to its enduring legacy, ensuring that the name remains a significant marker of historical heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zertuche
Among Census respondents with the surname Zertuche, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.2%. The next largest groups are White (9.7%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Zertuche 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 Zertuche surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino88.2% · 1,644
- White9.7% · 180
- Two or more races1.0% · 18
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.5% · 10
- Black or African American0.4% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 6
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zertuche
Zertuche appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#16,147
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,792
+277 bearers (+18.3%)
Per 100,000 0.61
Rank movement Up 1,074 places
2020
#15,174
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,865
+73 bearers (+4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.62
Rank movement Up 973 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #17,221 | 1,515 | 0.56 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #16,147 | 1,792 | 0.61 | +277 bearers (+18.3%) | Up 1,074 places |
| 2020 | #15,174 | 1,865 | 0.62 | +73 bearers (+4.1%) | Up 973 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 Zertuche 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 | #16,147 | #15,174 | 6.0% |
| Count | 1,792 | 1,865 | 4.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.61 | 0.62 | 2.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zertuche bearers went from 1,792 to 1,865 (+4.1% change). The surname moved up 973 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,147 to #15,174.
FAQ
Zertuche surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zertuche?
Name Census estimates that about 2,139 living Americans carry the surname Zertuche. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 160,240 residents.
How common is Zertuche?
Zertuche ranks #15,174 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,865 people with the surname Zertuche. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.62 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.62 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Zertuche.
Has Zertuche become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zertuche went from 1,792 recorded bearers to 1,865. That is an increase of 73 (+4.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #16,147 to #15,174.
What does the Census say about the background of Zertuche?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zertuche, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 88.2%. The next largest groups are White (9.7%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zertuche in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.2% (1,644 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zertuche appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (88.2%), White (9.7%), Two or More Races (1.0%). 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 Zertuche (2000, 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 Zertuche mean?
An uncommon Spanish surname possibly related to the word "zurzir" meaning to stitch or sew. 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 Zertuche (0.62 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 share the surname Zertuche?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.