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

Zitelli, 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 Zitelli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zitelli in America

Zitelli is the 81181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zitelli surname appeared 233 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 Zitelli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zitelli 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 Zitelli

The surname Zitelli finds its origins in Italy, specifically dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have been derived from the word "zitello," an old Italian term meaning "young man" or "bachelor." This term itself traces back to the Latin word "juvencus," which translates to "young." The regions where this surname first appeared were predominantly in Southern Italy, including areas such as Sicily and Calabria.

Historical records indicate that the Zitelli surname initially appeared in written documents during the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest mentions can be found in a legal manuscript dating back to 1324 in Palermo, Sicily. The name was often spelled in multiple ways, reflecting the evolution of the Italian language and regional dialects. Variations included "Zitelo," "Citelli," and "Zetelli."

In 1410, a significant mention of the surname Zitelli is noted in the chronicles of Southern Italy, where a Domenico Zitelli was a notable figure in the town of Catanzaro. His contributions to local architecture are still acknowledged. Another early record is from 1498 in Naples, featuring a Giovanni Zitelli, a merchant whose transactions were documented in the tax records of the time.

Moving forward to the Renaissance period, Andrea Zitelli, born in 1535 and died in 1598 in Palermo, became distinguished in the arts, specifically in painting. His works contributed significantly to the classical art style prevalent in Sicily during the 16th century. Subsequently, another notable figure, Father Luigi Zitelli, born in Rome in 1652 and died in 1710, gained prominence for his theological writings and sermons, influencing Italian religious thought.

By the 18th century, the surname Zitelli became more widespread throughout Italy. A notable individual from this period is Pietro Zitelli, an explorer born in 1728 in Naples who traveled extensively and documented his journeys across the Mediterranean, culminating in a published travelogue in 1762, which provided valuable insights into Mediterranean cultures and trade routes of the time.

Capricornio Zitelli, born in 1803 in Palermo and died in 1859, was a well-regarded physician whose work in medical science earned him respect in Italy and Europe. His studies on infectious diseases and public health measures were pioneering during his era. The surname continued to carry significance in various fields, marking the presence of the Zitelli lineage in diverse facets of Italian history.

By analyzing the surname Zitelli, one can trace a lineage that is deeply interwoven with the cultural, artistic, and scientific fabric of Italy. The history and accomplishments of bearers of this name provide a vivid illustration of the dynamic and multi-faceted contributions of Italian heritage across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zitelli

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!