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

Zilla, 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 Zilla surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zilla in America

Zilla is the 89753rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zilla surname appeared 206 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 Zilla.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zilla 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 Zilla

The surname Zilla is considered to have its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly within the regions that now constitute Poland and Germany. Its earliest traces can be linked to the medieval period, around the 12th to 13th centuries. Specifically, it is believed to derive from the Old High German word "zelle," meaning "cell" or "hermitage." This likely signifies that the original bearers of the surname were either connected to religious life or lived near a monastic cell or hermitage.

Historical records from Europe during the medieval period contain references to various forms of this surname. In Polish records, variations such as "Ziela" or "Zielas" can be found, denoting a similar origin. These records, often from parish registers or land documents, offer a glimpse into the distribution and usage of the surname throughout the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zilla is found in a 14th-century manuscript from Poland, where it appears as Czella. This document, a land grant, mentions a family bearing the surname in the Silesian region. Another early reference comes from a 16th-century Bavarian tax roll, listing a Hans Zilla as a property owner in Nuremberg.

Among notable individuals with the surname Zilla, Johann Zilla, born in 1570, was a distinguished scholar and cleric in Silesia. He made significant contributions to the local theological discourses of his time. Moving forward in history, Maria Zilla (1634-1702), a poet from Saxony, gained recognition for her literary works, which were influential in early modern German literature.

In the 18th century, the surname can be seen in various civic records. One prominent figure is Lukas Zilla, born in 1758, who was an important merchant and town councilor in Kraków. His involvement in local trade significantly impacted the city's economy during the late 18th century.

The surname Zilla continues to appear in historical contexts into the 19th century. François Zilla (1801-1875), a French intellectual and historian, made considerable contributions to the study of medieval European history. His extensive writings and publications offered a deeper understanding of the social and cultural dynamics of the time.

Overall, the surname Zilla boasts a rich heritage, deeply rooted in the cultural and historical landscapes of Eastern and Central Europe, reflecting its bearers’ notable roles in various societal spheres over centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zilla

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

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

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

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