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

Ziu, 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 Ziu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ziu in America

Ziu is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ziu surname appeared 120 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 Ziu.

The history of the last name Ziu

The surname Ziu has its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly in the regions that are present-day Albania and Kosovo. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th century. It is derived from the Albanian word "ziu," which translates to "grey" or "dark" in English. The moniker likely began as a descriptive surname, signifying a physical trait such as darker skin or hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ziu appears in the annals of the medieval Duchy of Durrës, a port city in Albania, around 1375. A document written in Old Albanian script mentions a certain Mark Ziu who was a merchant dealing in textiles. This reference suggests that the name might have been associated with mercantile activity during that period.

Further historical references show the name Ziu appearing in the Ottoman tax records (the defter) in the 15th century when Albania and Kosovo were parts of the Ottoman Empire. A record from 1431 lists an Arben Ziu who owned a considerable amount of land in the region of Shkodër, indicating that some bearers of the name had amassed wealth and influence.

The earliest known example of a place named after the surname is the village of Ziu i Ri (meaning "New Ziu") in southern Albania, established in the late 16th century. Another early spelling variant is Ziuj, found in historical records from the same era, suggesting slight deviations in phonetic transcription across different regions and time periods.

Several prominent individuals in history have carried the surname Ziu. One notable figure is Lekë Ziu, a military leader born in 1578 who played a significant role in local uprisings against the Ottoman rulers. Another is Father Gjergj Ziu, a Catholic priest and writer born in 1862, known for his contributions to Albanian literature and religious education until his death in 1925.

In the realm of academia, Dr. Bardhyl Ziu, born in 1920, was a distinguished historian who authored numerous works on the history of the Balkans. Another prominent individual is Besnik Ziu, an Albanian artist born in 1945 whose works are celebrated for their unique style and cultural significance.

The history of the surname Ziu reflects its deep roots in the Albanian and Kosovar cultural and historical milieu, evolving through various centuries and regions while retaining its distinctive identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ziu

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

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 Ziu 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.

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

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

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