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

Zigich, 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 Zigich surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zigich in America

Zigich is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zigich surname appeared 129 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 Zigich.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zigich 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 Zigich

The surname Zigich finds its origins in the Slavic regions of Southeastern Europe, particularly within the boundaries of modern-day Serbia. Emerging in the medieval period, the name Zigich is derived from a patronymic origin. In Slavic cultures, surnames often evolved from the given names of male ancestors, with suffixes like "ich," "ic," or "vich" denoting "son of" or "descendant of." The root "Ziga" could be an abbreviated form of more traditional Slavic names like Zivko or Zivan. The suffix "ich" was added to indicate lineage, leading to the creation of the surname Zigich.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Zigich can be traced back to church and municipal records in Serbia from the 15th and 16th centuries. This suggests that the family bearing this name had become sufficiently established to be documented in official records. Serbia, undergoing numerous changes in political control and societal structure during this period, provides a dynamic backdrop against which the surname Zigich rose to prominence within certain communities.

Historical references to the surname Zigich appear sporadically in various records, such as military records, property documents, and parish registers. For example, a notable early mention involves a recorded baptism in a Serbian Orthodox church event from the late 1500s, documenting a "Marko Zigich" as the father of a newborn child.

By the mid-19th century, members of the Zigich family started to become more widely recognized. Noteworthy individuals include Petar Zigich (1832-1888), who was a prominent merchant and community leader in his hometown in Vojvodina, Serbia. His involvement in local trade significantly impacted the regional economy at the time.

Another significant figure was Milica Zigich (1856-1915), who is remembered for her contributions to Serbian literature. Her poetry and writings in the late 19th century highlighted the cultural and societal changes happening in Serbia, marking her as a key cultural influencer in her era.

The 20th century saw the name Zigich appearing in more diverse contexts. Gavrilo Zigich (1890-1943) was a noted figure in the early part of the century, known for his participation in the Balkan Wars and later during World War I. His military service brought the surname Zigich into broader historical narratives of the period.

Moving further into the century, Branko Zigich (1925-1982) emerged as an influential painter whose art contributed considerably to the modern art movements in Yugoslavia. His works are still celebrated today for their unique style and cultural significance.

As the surname Zigich continued to be passed through generations, it became associated with a variety of professions and interests, highlighting the diverse paths taken by those who bore it. Despite evolving socio-political contexts and geographical dispersal, the name has retained its recognition and continues to echo the rich cultural legacy of its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zigich

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

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

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

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