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

Zocco, 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 Zocco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zocco in America

Zocco is the 62714th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zocco surname appeared 319 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 Zocco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zocco 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 Zocco

The surname Zocco has intriguing origins that trace back to Italy, where it likely emerged during the medieval period, roughly between the 12th and 15th centuries. Primarily rooted in the southern regions of Italy, particularly in Sicily, Zocco is believed to derive from a topographical or habitation-related origin. The name Zocco might be linked to the Italian word "zoccolo" or its variant "zocco," which translates to "clog" or "wooden shoe," suggesting it could have referred to a maker or wearer of wooden shoes, or possibly someone who lived near a notable tree stump or similar landmark.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zocco appears in 14th-century manuscripts located in Palermo, Sicily. During this era, records were meticulously maintained by the clergy and local governments, documenting everything from land ownership to tax records. It is in one such document, the "Catasto Onciario" of 1480, where the surname Zocco is first noted. As literacy spread and record-keeping became more formalized, the name began to appear in various local registers.

The variations in spellings, such as Zocco, Zoccolo, and even Zochi, offer insights into the regional dialects and linguistic transitions of early Italian. Over the centuries, the surname appeared in different contexts and regions, marking its bearers as people of local renown or importance. For example, Giovanni Zocco, born in 1653 in Catania, Sicily, became a noted craftsman whose name appears in guild records.

In the early 19th century, Luigi Zocco, born in 1807 in Messina, became a prominent figure when he served as a local magistrate. His contributions to local governance and the legal system were well-documented, further cementing the name Zocco in the historical annals of the period. Another individual of note, Maria Zocco, born in 1842 in Palermo, was reputed for her charitable work and is mentioned in various community records for her contributions to local hospitals.

The surname also appears in the domain of arts and literature. Carlo Zocco, a 19th-century poet and playwright born in Naples in 1821, attained modest fame with his works, which were often infused with local color and dialect. His name appears in collections of his writings preserved in Italian literary circles.

By the turn of the 20th century, the surname had spread beyond Italy, carried by emigration waves to North America and other parts of Europe. Antonio Zocco, born in 1875 in Palermo, emigrated to the United States in 1898, where he later established a successful business in New York City. His name appears in ship manifests and early 20th-century American city directories.

The historical journey of the surname Zocco from its medieval origins in Southern Italy to its spread across the globe illustrates the fascinating interplay of culture, language, and migration. Each individual bearing the name has contributed to its legacy, making Zocco a surname rich in history and heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zocco

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

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

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

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