2000
#76,208
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 235
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.09
Very Rare Last name
Zivic
A surname potentially derived from a Slavic word meaning "life" or "alive".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 275 Americans carry the last name Zivic. That puts it at #84,231 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,246,379 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zivic 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
275
1 in 1,246,379
Census rank
#84,231
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
240
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 240 bearers of the surname Zivic in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 84231st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zivic, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and Two or More Races (4.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zivic
The surname Zivic has its origins in the Slavic-speaking regions of southeastern Europe, particularly in areas that are part of present-day Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia. This surname traces back to the medieval period, a time when the South Slavic groups were establishing their communities and identities. The earliest references to the name Zivic can be found in manuscripts and documents dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, although precise records from that era are scarce.
The name Zivic is derived from the Slavic word "ziv," which translates to "alive" or "living." This root word is common in many Slavic languages, reflecting a cultural emphasis on vitality and life. The suffix "-ic" is a common diminutive in Slavic surnames, indicating "son of" or "descendant of," thus Zivic could be interpreted as "son of the living one" or "descendant of the vibrant."
Historical references to the surname Zivic can be found in various regional records. For example, in the 16th century, a manuscript from the Dubrovnik archives mentions a certain Petar Zivic, who lived in the coastal city and was involved in maritime trade. This indicates that the name was present among the mercantile class in the Adriatic region during the Renaissance.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Nikola Zivic, a soldier who fought in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. This battle was a significant event in Serbian history, and Nikola’s name appears in several ballads and records commemorating the fight against the Ottoman Empire.
Another notable person was Miroslav Zivic, born in the early 17th century in the region that is now Bosnia and Herzegovina. Miroslav was known for his work as a stonemason and left behind several stone carvings and edifices that have inscriptions bearing his surname. His work significantly contributed to the architectural heritage of the region.
Moving forward in time, the name Zivic appears in the annals of the Habsburg Monarchy. Ivan Zivic, born in 1750, served as a captain in the Austrian military and was noted for his valor during the wars against the Ottoman Turks. His military service brought him recognition and he was mentioned in dispatches and military records of the time.
In the 20th century, the surname gained international attention through Fritzie Zivic (1913-1984), an American boxer of Croatian descent who became the world welterweight champion. Born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fritzie’s achievements in the boxing ring brought the surname into the spotlight, particularly in sports history.
Also noteworthy is Marija Zivic, a Serbian poet born in 1868, who wrote extensively about the everyday life and struggles of the Serbian people during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her works have been anthologized, and her surname has thus been associated with Serbian literature and cultural history.
Overall, the surname Zivic has a rich history tied to the regions of Southeast Europe, with its bearers having made significant contributions in various fields such as military, trade, art, and sports. The name continues to be recognized as a symbol of cultural and historical heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zivic
Among Census respondents with the surname Zivic, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and Two or More Races (4.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Zivic 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 Zivic surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White84.6% · 203
- Hispanic or Latino6.7% · 16
- Two or more races4.6% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.9% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 2
- Black or African American0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zivic
Zivic 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
#86,981
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 214
-21 bearers (-8.9%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Down 10,773 places
2020
#84,231
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 240
+26 bearers (+12.1%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 2,750 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #76,208 | 235 | 0.09 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #86,981 | 214 | 0.07 | -21 bearers (-8.9%) | Down 10,773 places |
| 2020 | #84,231 | 240 | 0.08 | +26 bearers (+12.1%) | Up 2,750 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 Zivic 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 | #86,981 | #84,231 | 3.2% |
| Count | 214 | 240 | 12.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.08 | 14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zivic bearers went from 214 to 240 (+12.1% change). The surname moved up 2,750 positions in the national ranking, going from #86,981 to #84,231.
FAQ
Zivic surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zivic?
Name Census estimates that about 275 living Americans carry the surname Zivic. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,246,379 residents.
How common is Zivic?
Zivic ranks #84,231 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.08 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 240 people with the surname Zivic. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (275), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.08 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.08 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 Zivic.
Has Zivic become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zivic went from 214 recorded bearers to 240. That is an increase of 26 (+12.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #86,981 to #84,231.
What does the Census say about the background of Zivic?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zivic, the largest self-reported group is White at 84.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.7%) and Two or More Races (4.6%). 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 Zivic in the 2020 Census, accounting for 84.6% (203 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zivic appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (84.6%), Hispanic (6.7%), Two or More Races (4.6%). 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 Zivic (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 Zivic mean?
A surname potentially derived from a Slavic word meaning "life" or "alive". 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 Zivic (0.08 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 Zivic?
Want to know how common the surname Zivic is? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.