2000
#132,259
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zippilli
Italian surname meaning "little onions" or "young onions".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 119 Americans carry the last name Zippilli. That puts it at #153,590 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,880,289 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zippilli 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
119
1 in 2,880,289
Census rank
#153,590
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
104
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104 bearers of the surname Zippilli in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 153590th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zippilli, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Black (1.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zippilli
The surname Zippilli is of Italian origin, most commonly associated with central Italy, particularly the regions of Marche and Lazio. The name Zippilli can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th or 13th centuries. This era marked a time when surnames became more standardized, and patronymics, locative names, and occupational names were commonly adopted within Italian communities.
The origins of Zippilli are somewhat unclear, but it is believed to have derived from diminutive forms of personal names. One possibility is that it has roots in the medieval given name "Zeppus" or "Zeppo," which itself might have derived from a nickname or a regional variation of Giuseppe. Another theory suggests that the name could have been influenced by regional dialects or local terms, associating it with small, agile, or nimble characteristics, potentially describing the physical traits or behaviors of the family's ancestors.
One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Zippilli can be found in ecclesiastical records from the 14th century, wherein a certain Giovanni Zippilli is mentioned as a landowner in the province of Ascoli Piceno in Marche. These records, maintained by local churches, often noted significant contributors and landowners within the community.
During the Renaissance, another individual, Martino Zippilli, gained prominence as a local scholar and cleric in the city of Rome around the late 15th century. His work involved translating classical texts, and he was known for his extensive library, which contributed to the cultural preservation during this period.
In the 17th century, the name appears again, tied to Bartolomeo Zippilli, a notary in the city of Ancona. His legal expertise and public service are well-documented in notarial acts, highlighting the importance of the Zippilli family in the administration of local governance and legal affairs.
The 18th century saw the emergence of Maria Zippilli, born in 1732 in Fermo, who became well-regarded for her charitable endeavors, particularly her work in establishing orphanages and schools for underprivileged children. Her contributions to social welfare were acknowledged by various ecclesiastical and civic bodies.
In the 19th century, Luigi Zippilli, born in 1820, from Macerata, gained recognition as an accomplished painter, whose works were exhibited in numerous Italian galleries. His depiction of rural Italian life and religious scenes garnered critical acclaim and helped cement the family's legacy in the arts.
Overall, the Zippilli surname reflects a rich historical tapestry, with roots in medieval Italy, a presence in various significant records, and a legacy carried by individuals who made notable contributions to their communities in ecclesiastical, legal, social, and artistic fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zippilli
Among Census respondents with the surname Zippilli, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Black (1.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Zippilli 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 Zippilli surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.1% · 101
- Black or African American1.0% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zippilli
Zippilli 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
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+3 bearers (+2.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,045 places
2020
#153,590
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
-17 bearers (-14.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 15,286 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #132,259 | 118 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.5%) | Down 6,045 places |
| 2020 | #153,590 | 104 | 0.03 | -17 bearers (-14.0%) | Down 15,286 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 Zippilli 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 | #138,304 | #153,590 | -11.1% |
| Count | 121 | 104 | -14.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -13.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zippilli bearers went from 121 to 104 (-14.0% change). The surname moved down 15,286 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #153,590.
FAQ
Zippilli surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zippilli?
Name Census estimates that about 119 living Americans carry the surname Zippilli. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,880,289 residents.
How common is Zippilli?
Zippilli ranks #153,590 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 104 people with the surname Zippilli. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Zippilli.
Has Zippilli become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zippilli went from 121 recorded bearers to 104. That is a decrease of 17 (-14.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #138,304 to #153,590.
What does the Census say about the background of Zippilli?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zippilli, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Black (1.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zippilli in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.1% (101 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zippilli appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (97.1%), Black (1.0%), American Indian/Alaska Native (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 Zippilli (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 Zippilli mean?
Italian surname meaning "little onions" or "young onions". 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 Zippilli (0.03 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 are called Zippilli?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Zippilli is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.