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

Zozaya, 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 Zozaya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zozaya in America

Zozaya is the 46404th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zozaya surname appeared 459 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 Zozaya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zozaya 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 Zozaya

The surname Zozaya has its origins in the Basque Country, an autonomous community straddling the northeastern part of Spain and the southwestern part of France. The Basque people have a unique language and culture, and their surnames often reflect geographic or topographic elements of their rugged and mountainous homeland. Zozaya appears to be derived from the Basque words "zulo," meaning "hole" or "pit," and "zahaia," a diminutive suffix, indicating a small or narrow valley or hollow.

In historical references, the name Zozaya and its variants have appeared in various old documents and records. One of the earliest mentions of the name can be traced back to the 16th century in the region of Guipuzcoa, a province in the Basque Country. In these records, the name was spelled in several ways, including Zozaiago and Sozayaga, reflecting the fluid orthography of the time. Such spellings would later standardize into the modern form, Zozaya.

Pedro de Zozaya, a notable figure from the early 17th century, is among the earliest documented individuals with this surname. He was a soldier and landowner in the Basque region, and his contributions to local society are recorded in several municipal archives. Another significant historical figure is Juana María Zozaya, born in 1702 and known for her patronage of several churches and charitable establishments in Navarre, a region adjacent to the Basque Country.

The surname Zozaya also appears in the Americas, indicative of the Basque diaspora following Spain's colonial expansion. One famous bearer of the name is Ignacio Zozaya, a Spanish colonial administrator who served in various capacities in Mexico during the late 18th century. His efforts in governance contributed to maintaining the order and aiding development in Spanish territories overseas.

In more modern history, Pablo Zozaya, born in 1855, was a prominent figure in Argentine politics and law, reflecting the spread of Basques across the globe. His family had emigrated from Spain in the early 19th century, and the legacy of his work in shaping Argentina's legal system remains notable. Additionally, Maria Teresa Zozaya, born in 1891, was an influential writer and scholar in Mexico, contributing to the cultural and intellectual milieu of early 20th century Latin America.

Throughout history, the surname Zozaya has been borne by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, contributing to the rich tapestry of Basque and global heritage. The name’s origins in the Basque landscape and its subsequent spread through the world highlight the enduring legacy of the Basque people and their culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zozaya

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

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

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

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