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

Zone, 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 Zone surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zone in America

Zone is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zone surname appeared 271 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 Zone.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zone 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 Zone

The surname Zone is intriguing and somewhat rare. Its origins can be traced back to medieval Europe, primarily in the regions that are now Italy. The earliest instances of the surname can be found in the northern parts of Italy, especially in Lombardy. Examining the etymology, the name Zone is likely derived from the Latin word "zona," which means "belt" or "girdle." This could be a reference to a geographical feature such as a boundary or a belts of land, or perhaps have a professional connotation related to the trade of making belts or girdles.

One of the earliest mentions of a similar name is found in the 12th-century records in Lombardy, where a certain Giovanni de Zonis was documented. This suggests that the name might also have been linked with families who were landowners or had specific territorial claims. Interestingly, the Zone surname is connected to the small Italian municipality of Zone in the province of Brescia, which has been noted in records since the 13th century.

By the 15th century, the surname Zone had appeared in various legal documents and church records. In 1427, Andrea Zone is recorded in the tax registries of Mantua, reflecting that the name had established a presence in different parts of northern Italy. The variations in spelling, such as Zoni or Zon, often occurred due to the regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling during that era.

Significant individuals bearing the surname Zone include Ludovico Zone, a 16th-century linguist and scholar from Venice, who was known for his work in translating ancient Greek texts into Latin. Another historical figure is Maria de Zone, born in 1605, who was a well-respected painter in Milan and part of the burgeoning Baroque artistic movement.

The Zone name also appears in military records from the 17th century. Captain Carlo Zone of the Venetian navy, born in 1632, played a significant role during the Cretan War (1645–1669), which saw Venice defend its territories against the Ottoman Empire. His contributions to several naval battles were noted in the military annals of the time.

In the 18th century, the name Zone was documented in financial records of traders and merchants. Luigi Zone, born in 1743, was a prominent merchant in Genoa, dealing in silk and spices, reflecting the era's thriving Mediterranean trade networks. Records show his extensive business travels and connections spanning Italy and beyond.

Lastly, in the early 19th century, Giovanni Battista Zone, born in 1801, became a renowned architect and engineer known for his contributions to urban planning in the growing industrial cities of northern Italy. His work exemplifies the transition of the Zone family name from its historical and feudal roots to more modern professions and contributions.

The surname Zone, with its ties to various professions and regions, demonstrates the social and occupational mobility of European families over the centuries. From landowners and military figures to scholars and merchants, the history of the Zone name mirrors the dynamic changes in European society from the medieval period through the modern age.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zone

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

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

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

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