2010
#154,907
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zor
A variant form of the Persian word "zor" meaning strength or power.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Zor. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zor 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
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Zor in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zor, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zor
The surname Zor has its origins in the region of Eastern Europe, particularly in the areas now known as Poland and Ukraine. The surname is believed to have emerged around the 14th to 15th centuries. This region was a melting pot of different cultures and influences during the medieval period, which led to the development of various unique surnames.
The name Zor may be derived from the Slavic root word "zor," which means "dawn" or "daybreak." This etymology suggests that the name could have originally been descriptive of a person who was an early riser or someone associated with the morning. The spelling has remained relatively consistent over the centuries, although variations like Zorr or Zorz can occasionally be found in historical records.
One of the earliest documented occurrences of the surname Zor appears in parish records from the late 15th century in the region of Lesser Poland (Małopolska). These records indicate a family of landowners who bore the surname, suggesting that it may have originally been associated with the nobility or land-ownership. Another early instance is found in Ukrainian records from the early 16th century, where the name appears in tax documents and legal proceedings.
Among the notable historical figures with the surname Zor is Jan Zor, a Polish nobleman and military leader born around 1560. He participated in several key battles during the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth period and is noted for his role in the defense of the eastern borders. Records show that he died in 1620 during a skirmish against invading forces.
In the early 17th century, a member of the Zor family, Maria Zor, is noted for her charitable works and contributions to the construction of several churches in the Galicia region. Born in 1592, she dedicated much of her life to religious service and philanthropy, passing away in 1653.
Another prominent individual was Yakiv Zor, a Ukrainian Cossack leader known for his skills in diplomacy and military strategy. Born in 1665, he played a significant role in various uprisings and is often mentioned in the annals of Cossack history. He died in 1721, leaving behind a legacy of strategic prowess and leadership.
In the 18th century, a figure named Anton Zor emerged as a notable merchant and trader in the city of Lviv, which was at the time a major cultural and economic hub. Born in 1723, Anton expanded his trading empire across several regions, contributing to the economic growth of Lviv. He passed away in 1785.
By the 19th century, the surname Zor appeared in various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had absorbed many of the regions where the surname originated. One significant mention is of Emil Zor, a writer and poet born in 1803, known for his contributions to regional literature and folklore. His works often reflected the cultural and social dynamics of Eastern Europe, and he died in 1864.
Throughout history, the surname Zor has been associated with a range of individuals who contributed to their societies in various capacities. From noble leaders and military figures to philanthropists and writers, the name has left a mark in historical records, reflecting the diverse and rich heritage of Eastern Europe.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zor
Among Census respondents with the surname Zor, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zor 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 Zor surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White57.0% · 69
- Black or African American33.9% · 41
- Asian and Pacific Islander5.8% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino1.7% · 2
- Two or more races1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zor
Zor appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+16 bearers (+15.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 13,598 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #154,907 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +16 bearers (+15.2%) | Up 13,598 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 Zor 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 | #154,907 | #141,309 | 8.8% |
| Count | 105 | 121 | 15.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zor bearers went from 105 to 121 (+15.2% change). The surname moved up 13,598 positions in the national ranking, going from #154,907 to #141,309.
FAQ
Zor surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zor?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Zor. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Zor?
Zor ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 121 people with the surname Zor. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Zor.
Has Zor become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zor went from 105 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 16 (+15.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #154,907 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Zor?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zor, the largest self-reported group is White at 57.0%. The next largest groups are Black (33.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%). 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 Zor in the 2020 Census, accounting for 57.0% (69 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zor appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (57.0%), Black (33.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (5.8%). 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 Zor (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 Zor mean?
A variant form of the Persian word "zor" meaning strength or power. 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 Zor (0.04 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 have the last name Zor?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Zor is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.