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

Zita, 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 Zita surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zita in America

Zita is the 70208th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zita surname appeared 279 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 Zita.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zita 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 Zita

The surname Zita has its roots in Italy, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Lombardy. The name likely originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, and is derived from the Italian word "zita," which means "bride" or "young woman" in the Tuscan dialect. This term itself is thought to have stemmed from a much older root, potentially as an affectionate or familial nickname that evolved into a surname.

Historical references to the surname can be found in various records and manuscripts. One notable reference is the 13th-century Italian saint, St. Zita of Lucca, who became the patron saint of domestic workers, although her fame primarily stems from her first name. Historical documents from the region of Lucca in Tuscany show families with the surname Zita around the same period, and it is possible that some adopted this surname in honor of the saint or as a mark of local pride and heritage.

The earliest recorded examples of the Zita surname appear in ecclesiastical records and tax documents from Tuscany in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Over time, various spellings of the surname such as Zitti and Zitti may be noted in older documents, although these are relatively rare and often appear to be transcription errors.

One significant individual with this surname is Bernardino Zita, born in 1498, who was a notable printer in Venice during the Renaissance. His contributions to the printing and dissemination of classical and contemporary works were influential in spreading Renaissance humanism.

Another important figure is Pasquale Zita, a 17th-century Italian painter known for his religious and devotional artworks, primarily in churches in Southern Italy. His works remain an essential part of the artistic heritage of the region.

In the 18th century, Giovanni Zita, born in 1720, was a prominent Tuscan merchant whose extensive trade networks contributed to the economic development of his region. His business records provide a detailed look at the commerce of the time.

Moving into the 19th century, Antonio Zita, born in 1832, was a political figure involved in the Italian unification movement. His advocacy and participation in the Risorgimento were significant in helping to consolidate Italy into a unified state.

Lastly, Maria Zita, born in 1875, was a well-known Italian poet and translator whose works helped to bring Italian literary culture into the broader European context during the early 20th century. Her influence on both literary forms and cultural exchange has been celebrated in several anthologies of the period.

The surname Zita, steeped in Italian history and culture, illustrates the evolving nature of surnames from a specific region and offers an intriguing glimpse into the lives of those who have carried it through the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zita

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

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

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

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