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

Zubi, 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 Zubi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zubi in America

Zubi is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zubi surname appeared 142 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 Zubi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zubi 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 Zubi

The surname Zubi traces its origins to the Basque region, located in the northern part of Spain and the southwestern part of France. This geographical area is known for its distinct language, Euskara, which is neither Romance nor Germanic but an isolated language with a rich history. The name Zubi is derived from the Basque word zubi, which means "bridge" in English. The genesis of the surname can be traced back to the medieval period, between the 10th and 12th centuries, when surnames began to develop in Europe to identify individuals by their profession, residence, or other distinguishing characteristics.

Historically, the use of Zubi as a surname likely identified individuals who lived near or worked on bridges, which were significant infrastructural elements in medieval societies. Bridges were not only vital for the transportation of people and goods but also held strategic military importance. The earliest references to the name can be found in old Basque documents and charters, where it was often associated with land transactions and the construction or maintenance of bridges.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zubi appears in a 13th-century manuscript from the region of Gipuzkoa, a historic territory in the Basque Country. A certain Diego Zubi de Eibar is mentioned in a 1245 document as a landowner and bridge-builder, illustrating both the occupational and geographic ties of the name. Over time, the surname spread to other areas within the Basque region and beyond, carried by families who migrated for economic or social reasons.

In the annals of Spanish and Basque history, the surname Zubi appears periodically. During the 16th century, a well-documented figure bearing the name is Martín Zubi, who was born in Bilbao in 1547 and worked as a bridge engineer. His contributions to improving transportation infrastructure in the region were well-respected, making him a notable figure in the chronicles of Basque engineering.

The 17th century saw another significant individual, María de Zubi, born in 1623 in San Sebastián. She was known for her patronage of several architectural projects, including bridges and fortifications. Her involvement in these projects underscored the family's continuing association with bridge-building and civil engineering. María de Zubi's contribution to her community's infrastructure remains a part of local history.

In the 18th century, Ignacio Zubi, born in 1715 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, exemplified the spread of the surname into the broader Iberian Peninsula. Ignacio was a merchant whose business ventures often required the use of bridges and safe passages, hinting at the enduring symbolic connection of the surname to his work in trade and transportation.

Another noteworthy figure is José Antonio Zubi, an 18th-century political figure born in 1762 in Pamplona. He served as a provincial governor and was instrumental in planning and implementing infrastructure projects, including the construction of several key bridges in the region. His work helped to modernize transportation and commerce in the area, further embedding the Zubi name in regional history.

Throughout history, the surname Zubi has maintained a steady presence in records and archives, signifying a legacy tied closely to the vital role of bridges in linking communities and facilitating movement. The name continues to evoke the historical significance of these structures, reflecting the heritage and contributions of those who bore it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zubi

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

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

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

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