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

Zora, 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 Zora surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zora in America

Zora is the 56588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zora surname appeared 361 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 Zora.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zora 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 Zora

The surname Zora is believed to have originated in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe, most notably in countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. The name likely dates back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 14th centuries, when surnames began to be adopted more widely in these areas.

Zora is derived from the Slavic word "zora" which means "dawn." The name may have originally been a nickname for someone with a particularly optimistic or bright personality, likened to the new beginning of a day at dawn. Historical records from the region indicate the use of similar surnames like Zorak and Zoran, suggesting a common root in the linguistic family tree.

As with many surnames of Slavic origin, Zora appears in several early manuscripts and registers. For example, an early occurrence of a variant of the name is found in a 15th-century Polish census where a Karol Zoran is listed as a landowner. Additionally, in Bohemian records from the late 14th-century, a Zora family is noted among the townsfolk of Prague, indicating the name was well-established within urban centers.

Early forms of the surname, such as Zoran and Zorak, can be traced back to various regions. In Poland, the Zora name appears connected to the Masovian Voivodeship, whereas in Slovakia, it is linked to the region of Trnava. These older variations highlight how the surname has evolved over time and across regions.

A notable historical figure with the surname is Jan Zora, recorded in the 16th century as a prominent merchant in Kraków. He played a significant role in the city's trade during this period. Another luminary with the surname is Ivan Zoran, a Slovenian poet active in the early 17th century, known for his lyrical works celebrating the dawn's light.

In the 18th century, Maria Zora emerged as a significant character in Bohemian history; she was a known supporter of the arts and a benefactress of several local theaters in Prague. Her contributions to Bohemian culture were well-documented by contemporaries.

Moving into the 19th century, we encounter Josef Zora, born in 1823, who was a recognized botanist in Slovakia. His research contributed extensively to the understanding of the regional flora and was widely published in scientific journals of the time.

In 1892, Antonin Zora, a Czech political figure, made his mark. Engaged in significant nationalist movements, he played a part in the national revival that eventually led to the formation of Czechoslovakia.

The Zora surname, with its rich history and significant bearers, spans centuries and reflects deep cultural and linguistic roots within the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe. Each recorded instance provides a glimpse into the name’s journey through history, illustrating its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zora

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

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

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

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