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

Zografos, 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 Zografos surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zografos in America

Zografos is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zografos surname appeared 300 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 Zografos.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zografos 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 Zografos

The surname Zografos has its origins in Greece and dates back to the Byzantine era, specifically around the 9th to 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Greek word "ζωγράφος" meaning "painter" or "iconographer". During the Byzantine period, iconography was a highly respected art form, and the term was often associated with those who painted religious icons, murals, or manuscripts.

The areas where the name Zografos was originally found are primarily within the regions of Macedonia, Epirus, and parts of Thessaly and Mount Athos. The usage of this surname was indicative of a person's profession, particularly linked with the religious and artistic communities.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name occurs in ecclesiastical records from the 12th century, specifically in the archives of Mount Athos, a monastic state on the Athos Peninsula known for its significant contributions to Byzantine art and iconography. These records mention several monks bearing the name Zografos, indicating their roles as painters within the monastic community.

Over time, the surname Zografos spread beyond religious circles and was adopted by laypeople, often those engaged in artistic or scholarly pursuits. A notable figure is Ioannis Zografos, a painter and iconographer from the 17th century whose works are still studied in art history courses today. His murals adorn several churches in Northern Greece and have been preserved as part of the nation's cultural heritage.

In the 19th century, Dimitrios Zografos, born in 1820 and died in 1890, emerged as a prominent artist known for his depictions of traditional Greek life and landscapes. His work was instrumental in fostering a sense of national identity during Greece’s struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire. He was celebrated for his detailed and vivid portrayals that provided a visual narrative of Greece's cultural resurgence.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Alexandros Zografos, born in 1861 and died in 1925, a diplomat and historian who meticulously documented the political and social changes occurring in the late Ottoman and early modern Greek state. His manuscripts and writings are considered key resources for understanding the geopolitical landscape of the Balkans during that period.

The surname was also prominent in academic circles with Nikolaos Zografos, a philologist born in 1904 and died in 1977, who dedicated his life to the study of medieval Greek language and literature. His exhaustive research on Byzantine texts contributed to the preservation and understanding of medieval Greek culture and history.

The most famous bearer of the surname in the 20th century was George Zografos, born in 1913 and died in 1995, a well-respected artist and teacher whose works were showcased in numerous exhibitions both in Greece and internationally. His abstract and avant-garde style garnered significant acclaim and placed him among the influential figures of modern Greek art.

These historical records and individuals highlight the rich heritage and cultural significance of the surname Zografos, rooted deeply in the realms of art, religion, and scholarship in Greek history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zografos

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

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

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

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