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

Zisa, 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 Zisa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zisa in America

Zisa is the 48060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zisa surname appeared 440 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 Zisa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zisa 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 Zisa

The surname Zisa has its origins in Italy, specifically within the regions of Sicily. Dating back to the medieval period, the name Zisa is thought to relate to the ancient Roman deity Isis, whose worship had spread throughout the Roman Empire, including Sicily. The Italian phonetic adaptation of the name likely transformed into Zisa over time.

In historical manuscripts, the surname Zisa appears as early as the 11th century. Notably, the term was referenced in documents associated with the Normans' reign in Sicily, a period that began with the invasion in 1061. The name may also be connected to the Zisa Castle in Palermo, Sicily, built during the 12th century under the Norman rule, which provided a significant geographical and cultural anchor for the surname.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Zisa was Giovanni Zisa, who appeared in court records in Palermo in 1214. Another significant figure was Pietro Zisa, mentioned in a land grant dating back to 1302. These records indicate a well-established family presence in Sicilian society.

In the 15th century, Giulia Zisa gained recognition as an intellectual and patron of the arts in Messina, contributing to the flourishing Renaissance culture in Sicily. She was born in 1437 and died in 1498.

During the 17th century, Francesco Zisa emerged as a prominent merchant in Agrigento, born in 1622 and passing away in 1689, facilitating trade between Sicily and the mainland. This involvement in commerce helped to elevate the surname’s prominence in regional economic activities.

In literary circles of the 19th century, Maria Zisa became known for her poetry and essays, providing a keen insight into Sicilian traditions and culture. Her birthplace was Catania in 1821, and she passed away in 1885, leaving behind a legacy of written work deeply appreciated in Italian literary history.

Another notable Zisa was Antonio Zisa, an architect famed for his designs in Palermo during the early 18th century. Born in 1670 and dying in 1735, Antonio’s work helped shape the architectural landscape of his time.

The surname Zisa, although less common today, embodies a rich tapestry of history, culture, and notable individuals who contributed to the society and heritage of Sicily.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zisa

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

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

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

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