2000
#18,397
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,387
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.51
Rare Last name
Zorrilla
A Spanish surname derived from the word "zorra" meaning fox.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,371 Americans carry the last name Zorrilla. That puts it at #13,963 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.69 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 144,561 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zorrilla 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
2.4K
1 in 144,561
Census rank
#13,963
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,068 bearers of the surname Zorrilla in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.69 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13963rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zorrilla, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zorrilla
The surname Zorrilla is of Spanish origin, with its roots extending back to the Iberian Peninsula. The name is believed to have originated in the medieval period, particularly in regions such as Castile and León, which were significant historical areas during the Reconquista.
The etymology of Zorrilla is linked to the Spanish word zorra, meaning "fox." The diminutive suffix illa implies a smaller or affectionate version, suggesting a meaning akin to "little fox" or "cunning one." This nomenclature likely arose from certain traits attributed to the individuals or families carrying the name, such as cleverness or guile.
Historical references to the surname Zorrilla can be traced back to various records and manuscripts from medieval Spain. One of the early mentions of the name appears in the "Confederation of Nobles" of Castile, although concrete documentation from these times is sparse and often incomplete.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name is Francisco Zorrilla, who was noted in municipal records of Valladolid in the 16th century. Another historical figure is Pedro Zorrilla, documented as a nobleman and military figure active in the late 15th century, particularly in the battles against the Moorish forces.
José Zorrilla y Moral (1817-1893) is arguably the most famous bearer of the surname. Born in Valladolid, he was a renowned Spanish Romantic poet and dramatist, best known for his play Don Juan Tenorio, which has become a crucial part of Spanish literary heritage. His works have been celebrated for their contribution to Spanish literature and culture.
Another notable individual is the 19th-century botanist and naturalist, Manuel Zorrilla, who made significant contributions to the study of Iberian flora. His research and writings remain referenced in the field of botany.
The surname also appears in political history. Antonio Zorrilla served as a prominent political figure in early 20th-century Spain, holding various governmental posts. Born in 1867, he was recognized for his involvement in Spanish political reforms and development projects until his death in 1946.
Additionally, historian Pablo Zorrilla is known for his extensive research and publications on medieval Spanish history. His academic contributions have provided deeper insights into the sociopolitical dynamics of medieval Spain.
The Zorrilla surname carries with it a rich historical tapestry, intertwined with Spain's cultural, military, and academic evolution through the centuries. While it may not be as commonly encountered today, the legacy of those who bore the name continues to be felt in various fields of Spanish heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zorrilla
Among Census respondents with the surname Zorrilla, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Zorrilla 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 Zorrilla surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino91.5% · 1,892
- White4.8% · 100
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.2% · 45
- Black or African American0.7% · 15
- Two or more races0.7% · 15
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zorrilla
Zorrilla 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
#15,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,856
+469 bearers (+33.8%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Up 2,685 places
2020
#13,963
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,068
+212 bearers (+11.4%)
Per 100,000 0.69
Rank movement Up 1,749 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #18,397 | 1,387 | 0.51 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,712 | 1,856 | 0.63 | +469 bearers (+33.8%) | Up 2,685 places |
| 2020 | #13,963 | 2,068 | 0.69 | +212 bearers (+11.4%) | Up 1,749 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 Zorrilla 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 | #15,712 | #13,963 | 11.1% |
| Count | 1,856 | 2,068 | 11.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.63 | 0.69 | 9.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zorrilla bearers went from 1,856 to 2,068 (+11.4% change). The surname moved up 1,749 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,712 to #13,963.
FAQ
Zorrilla surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zorrilla?
Name Census estimates that about 2,371 living Americans carry the surname Zorrilla. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 144,561 residents.
How common is Zorrilla?
Zorrilla ranks #13,963 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.69 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,068 people with the surname Zorrilla. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,371), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.69 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.69 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Zorrilla.
Has Zorrilla become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zorrilla went from 1,856 recorded bearers to 2,068. That is an increase of 212 (+11.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,712 to #13,963.
What does the Census say about the background of Zorrilla?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zorrilla, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 91.5%. The next largest groups are White (4.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zorrilla in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.5% (1,892 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zorrilla appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (91.5%), White (4.8%), Asian/Pacific Islander (2.2%). 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 Zorrilla (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 Zorrilla mean?
A Spanish surname derived from the word "zorra" meaning fox. 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 Zorrilla (0.69 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 common is the surname Zorrilla?
Find out how common the surname Zorrilla is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.