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

Zovko, 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 Zovko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zovko in America

Zovko is the 97210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zovko surname appeared 187 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 Zovko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zovko 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 Zovko

The surname Zovko has its origins in the Slavic regions of Europe, primarily Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name can be traced back to at least the medieval period, with early mentions appearing in church registers and land records. The etymology of the name is linked to the old Slavic word "zov," which means "call" or "summon." This suggests that the name might have originally been a nickname or occupational surname for someone who served as a herald or messenger.

One of the earliest historical references to the surname Zovko appears in a 15th-century transcript detailing land ownership in the region of Dalmatia, a coastal area associated with the Venetian Republic at the time. This document mentions a Marco Zovko who held a modest estate near the town of Trogir. This suggests the name was already established in the region by that period.

In the early 16th century, Ivan Zovko, born in 1502, became a noted figure in Dubrovnik (Ragusa), a significant maritime republic and cultural hub. Ivan was a merchant and contributed to various charitable causes, indicating that the Zovko family was becoming more prominent and affluent during that time.

The surname appears again in 1654 in church records from Bosnia, mentioning a Jarko Zovko, who served as a local clergy member. This demonstrates the spread of the name beyond Croatia, suggesting migration or expanded familial ties. Jarko Zovko was known for his written sermons, a few of which are preserved in the archives of a monastery near Sarajevo.

Another notable Zovko was Milica Zovko, born in 1798 in Split, Croatia. She became one of the early female educators in the region and was instrumental in setting up the first local school for girls in 1823. Her efforts in promoting education earned her recognition, and parts of her correspondence with Croatian authorities have been preserved.

The 19th century also saw the emergence of Josip Zovko, born in 1831 in Mostar. A scholar and linguist, Josip made significant contributions to the study of the Bosnian dialects, with several of his works published in the periodicals of the time. His analyses and collections of folk tales were influential in preserving the local culture and linguistic heritage.

By the early 20th century, the surname Zovko can be identified with Petar Zovko, born in 1886, a politician and member of the Croatian Parliament. He was involved in significant legislative reforms during the interwar period and played a role in the development of infrastructure in his home region.

Throughout history, the surname Zovko has been associated with various prominent individuals who contributed to the cultural, religious, and political life of their regions. This shows a rich tapestry of family history stretching back centuries, grounded in the heart of South Slavic lands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zovko

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

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

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

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