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

Zois, 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 Zois surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zois in America

Zois is the 77264th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zois surname appeared 248 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 Zois.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zois 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 Zois

The surname Zois has its origins in Greece, with roots tracing back to the Byzantine Empire period around the 10th and 11th centuries. The name is derived from the Greek word "ζωή" (zoe), which means "life." This etymology reflects a historical context where names often held significant meanings related to virtues, qualities, or desirable attributes. Variants of the surname, such as Zois and Zoe, can be found in medieval Greek texts and records, indicating its longstanding usage.

During the Byzantine era, the name Zois appeared in several manuscripts and official records. Notably, the name was mentioned in legal documents and ecclesiastical records, which were meticulously maintained by the Byzantine administration. One early example includes the 12th-century reference to a landowner named Michael Zois in a tax registry from the region of Thessalonica. This suggests that individuals bearing the surname were involved in commerce and landownership.

The surname gained further prominence during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, spanning from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Historical records such as the 1453 census of the Peloponnese region list several individuals with the surname Zois, indicating that it persisted through turbulent periods of Greek history. One noteworthy person from this era is Georgios Zois, a merchant based in Ioannina, known for his extensive trade networks in the late 17th century.

Moving into the 18th century, the surname Zois began appearing in records of the Greek diaspora. For example, Nikolaos Zois, a scholar born in 1757 and died in 1818, moved to Venice and became known for his contributions to Greek literature and education. His works included the compilation of Greek historical manuscripts and the promotion of Greek language and culture during a crucial period leading up to the Greek War of Independence.

In the 19th century, as Greece regained independence, the Zois surname appeared more frequently in official state documents. Andreas Zois, born in 1823 and died in 1891, was a prominent figure in the governance of the newly formed Greek state, serving as a legislator and an advocate for educational reforms. His efforts were instrumental in shaping the modern Greek educational system.

During the early 20th century, the name continued to be recognized within Greece and amongst the Greek communities abroad. Evangelos Zois, a notable individual born in 1876 and died in 1948, was a diplomat who played a significant role in Greek foreign policy during the interwar period. His diplomatic missions included posts in key European capitals where he worked tirelessly to promote Greek interests and maintain international relations.

The surname Zois, deeply rooted in Greek heritage, reflects a rich historical journey through Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern Greek periods. It signifies a lineage associated with life, resilience, and contributions to Greek culture and society over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zois

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

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

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

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