2000
#133,114
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zolli
A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from the word "zollo" meaning a clump or lump.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Zolli. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zolli 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
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Zolli in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zolli, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zolli
The surname Zolli is believed to have its origins in Italy, particularly from the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The name likely emerged around the late medieval period, roughly the 14th or 15th century. It is composed of a root that might be related to the Italian word "zolla," which means a clod or lump of earth, possibly indicating an occupational origin related to farming or tilling the soil.
In historical references, the surname Zolli appears in various records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known mentions can be traced back to Venetian and Friulian archives from the 1500s. These areas were known for their rich agricultural landscapes, and it is plausible that the individuals with this surname were engaged in farming or land-related professions.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the Zolli surname is found in the records of Giovanni Zolli, a landowner documented in the Venetian Republic in 1548. His contributions to local agriculture were notable, and his family held a significant standing in regional society of the time.
The name Zolli also appears in the context of various place names. For instance, Zolla was a district renowned for its fertile land and robust farming community. Older spellings of the name include Zolle and Zoli, which are found in manuscripts dating back to the 16th century.
Among the notable figures with the surname Zolli is Israel Zolli, originally named Israel Zoller. Born in 1881 and passed away in 1956, he served as the Chief Rabbi of Rome during World War II. His profound impact extended beyond the Jewish community, particularly notable for his conversion to Catholicism in 1945, a significant religious and personal transformation.
Another historical figure is Antonio Zolli, an accomplished painter from Venice born in 1665. His works contributed to the artistic heritage of the lagoon city, influencing countless other artists of his time and leaving behind a legacy of creativity that persisted for generations.
Moreover, we find references to Marco Zolli, a Venetian sailor and merchant known for his voyages to the East. Born in 1682, his explorations and trade activities were crucial in establishing Venice's maritime strength and global connections during his era.
The Zolli name also appears in the 19th century, with figures such as Paolo Zolli, an academic and writer. Born in 1824, he was a scholar whose literary contributions enriched the cultural and intellectual fabric of Italy, publishing several works on Italian history and folklore.
Finally, the Zolli surname is associated with Maria Zolli, an influential social reformer in the late 19th century. Born in 1859, she was a prominent advocate for women's rights and child welfare, leading various initiatives that improved societal conditions and left a lasting impact on her community.
Across centuries, the Zolli surname has been borne by individuals who contributed to various spheres such as agriculture, religion, the arts, exploration, academia, and social reform, reflecting a rich and multifaceted heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zolli
Among Census respondents with the surname Zolli, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Zolli 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 Zolli surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.2% · 94
- Hispanic or Latino6.9% · 7
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zolli
Zolli 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
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
-8 bearers (-6.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 17,338 places
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-7 bearers (-6.4%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 4,303 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #133,114 | 117 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-6.8%) | Down 17,338 places |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -7 bearers (-6.4%) | Down 4,303 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 Zolli 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 | #150,452 | #154,755 | -2.9% |
| Count | 109 | 102 | -6.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zolli bearers went from 109 to 102 (-6.4% change). The surname moved down 4,303 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #154,755.
FAQ
Zolli surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zolli?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Zolli. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Zolli?
Zolli ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 102 people with the surname Zolli. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Zolli.
Has Zolli become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zolli went from 109 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 7 (-6.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #150,452 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Zolli?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zolli, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and Two or More Races (1.0%). 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 Zolli in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.2% (94 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zolli appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.2%), Hispanic (6.9%), Two or More Races (1.0%). 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 Zolli (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 Zolli mean?
A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from the word "zollo" meaning a clump or lump. 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 Zolli (0.03 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 share the surname Zolli?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.