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

Zohar, 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 Zohar surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zohar in America

Zohar is the 57372nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zohar surname appeared 355 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 Zohar.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zohar 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 Zohar

The surname Zohar originates from Hebrew-speaking regions and has ancient roots, resurfacing in various parts of the Jewish diaspora over centuries. The name Zohar, meaning "splendor" or "radiance" in Hebrew, likely started to be used as a surname among Jewish communities in the medieval period when individuals started to adopt hereditary surnames.

The earliest references to the surname Zohar can be traced back to Jewish texts and communities during the Middle Ages. The name is linked to the mystical book called the "Zohar," a foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah, which emerged in 13th-century Spain. The association with this spiritual text might have contributed to its adoption as a surname, symbolizing a connection to mystical wisdom and splendor.

One notable historical figure is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a second-century sage traditionally credited as the author of the Zohar, although this text was later compiled much later. While Shimon bar Yochai did not bear the surname Zohar, the profound impact of his attributed work has influenced the surname's prevalence.

Another early documented bearer of the surname is Eliezer Zohar, a prominent rabbi in 16th-century Ottoman Palestine. His teachings and writings were instrumental in the dissemination of Kabbalistic thought in the region.

By the 18th century, several families with the surname Zohar appear in records across Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland and Lithuania. These families often were associated with scholarly pursuits or trades connected to Jewish communal life. Rabbi Yaakov Zohar, a distinguished Talmudic scholar born in 1735 in Poland, played a significant role in Jewish educational circles of his time.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Zohar surname spread further into Western Europe and the Americas as Jewish communities migrated. Notably, Moshe Zohar, a Jewish merchant and community leader born in 1860 in Odessa, became influential in the development of Jewish communal infrastructure in London after his emigration.

A more contemporary figure, though still historical, is Avraham Zohar, a poet and writer born in 1933 in Tel Aviv. His works contributed significantly to modern Hebrew literature, blending traditional themes with contemporary issues. His literary accomplishments brought renewed attention to the surname Zohar in cultural and academic circles.

The surname Zohar, with its rich historical and spiritual associations, has been carried by many influential individuals who have contributed to both Jewish thought and broader intellectual landscapes. This history underscores the name's enduring legacy and resonance across centuries and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zohar

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

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

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

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