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

Zoto, 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 Zoto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zoto in America

Zoto is the 51723rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zoto surname appeared 402 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 Zoto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zoto 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 Zoto

The surname Zoto is believed to have its origins in the Balkan region, specifically within Albania. Historical linguists suggest that the name derives from the Albanian word "zot," which translates to "lord" or "master." This indicates that the name may have originally been attributed to individuals of noble status or landowners within Albanian society. The time period during which the surname first appeared is not precisely documented, but it is widely accepted to be medieval.

In medieval times, surnames were often descriptive of a person's occupation, status, or characteristics. References to surnames similar to Zoto can be found in various historical Albanian records and manuscripts. One of the early known documented uses appears in the Ottoman defters, tax records from the Ottoman Empire, which controlled Albania from the 15th to the early 20th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Zoto was Lekë Zoto, noted in a 16th-century Ottoman defter as a landowner in the region of Shkodër, which is situated in modern northern Albania. His prominence in the records suggests a position of some importance in the local community.

Another significant historical figure was Gjergj Zoto, a notable freedom fighter in the early 19th century during the Albanian National Awakening. Born in 1790 and died in 1855, Gjergj Zoto dedicated his life to the struggle against Ottoman rule and sought greater autonomy for the Albanian people.

In the late 19th century, Mark Zoto emerged as an influential figure in the cultural sphere. He was born in 1851 in Vlorë, a coastal city in southern Albania. Mark Zoto was a poet and writer who contributed to the preservation and promotion of Albanian literature and folklore. His works remain an integral part of Albanian cultural history.

Towards the mid-20th century, Luan Zoto gained recognition as a notable diplomat and politician. Born in 1915 in Tirana, Luan Zoto played a key role in shaping Albanian foreign policy during the early years of Albania's communist regime. He died in 1972, leaving behind a legacy of political contributions during a complex period in the nation's history.

Lastly, Maria Zoto, born in 1938 in Durrës, an important port city in Albania, was a pioneering figure in the field of education. She was one of the first female university professors in post-World War II Albania and dedicated her career to advancing women's education and rights in a traditionally patriarchal society.

The geographical spread of the surname Zoto within Albania and its diaspora underscores its enduring presence and significance. While the exact origin date of the surname remains uncertain, its historical journey through the medieval period to the 20th century is marked by significant individuals who have contributed to various facets of Albanian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zoto

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

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

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

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