2010
#160,975
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Zuby
Name derived from the Arabic word "zubaydah" meaning "little deer" or "little gazelle".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 119 Americans carry the last name Zuby. That puts it at #153,590 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,880,289 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zuby 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
119
1 in 2,880,289
Census rank
#153,590
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
104
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 104 bearers of the surname Zuby in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 153590th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zuby, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zuby
The surname Zuby traces its origins to Eastern Europe, particularly regions that are now part of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The earliest records of the surname can be found in medieval manuscripts dating back to the 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Slavic word zub, which means tooth. This could imply an occupational origin relating to dentistry or a nickname for someone with prominent teeth.
One of the earliest references to the surname appears in the 1370 Bohemian tax records where a Jan Zuby is listed as a village elder. This suggests the name was well-established in rural areas at that time. Variations of the name, such as Zubi and Zubý, have appeared in different documents over the centuries, reflecting regional dialects and orthographic practices.
In the 15th century, Matej Zuby from Prague is recorded in a legal document concerning land ownership disputes. Such records indicate that individuals bearing this surname were involved in local governance and community affairs. The presence of the name in official documents underscores its recognition and respect within local societies.
By the late 17th century, records indicate the migration of the Zuby family to other parts of Europe, including Poland and Hungary, likely due to political upheaval and economic opportunities. A notable figure is Laszlo Zuby (1634-1701), a Hungarian merchant who traded extensively across the Danube. His business pursuits highlight the movement of the Zuby name beyond its initial regions.
In the 19th century, historian Josef Zuby (1792-1867) became a prominent academic figure in Prague. His extensive writings on Slavic history and culture contributed to the understanding of the region’s past, bringing the Zuby name into scholarly circles. Publications from this period often included his surname, solidifying its academic association.
Peter Zuby (1855-1923), a Slovak nationalist, played a significant role in the cultural revival of Slovakia. His efforts in promoting Slovak language and literature were crucial in the national awakening movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His contributions are often cited in historical texts chronicling this period.
Throughout history, the Zuby surname has been associated with various professions and societal roles. While its origin lies in a relatively common Slavic word, the individuals who bore the name contributed to its historical tapestry through governance, migration, commerce, academia, and nationalism. These historical footprints provide a rich context for the surname, showcasing its evolution and the notable individuals who carried it forward through the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zuby
Among Census respondents with the surname Zuby, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Zuby 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 Zuby surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.4% · 93
- Two or more races6.7% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9% · 2
- Black or African American1.0% · 1
- Hispanic or Latino1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zuby
Zuby appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#153,590
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
+4 bearers (+4.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 7,385 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #160,975 | 100 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #153,590 | 104 | 0.03 | +4 bearers (+4.0%) | Up 7,385 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 Zuby 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 | #160,975 | #153,590 | 4.6% |
| Count | 100 | 104 | 4.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 16.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zuby bearers went from 100 to 104 (+4.0% change). The surname moved up 7,385 positions in the national ranking, going from #160,975 to #153,590.
FAQ
Zuby surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zuby?
Name Census estimates that about 119 living Americans carry the surname Zuby. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,880,289 residents.
How common is Zuby?
Zuby ranks #153,590 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 104 people with the surname Zuby. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (119), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zuby.
Has Zuby become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zuby went from 100 recorded bearers to 104. That is an increase of 4 (+4.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #160,975 to #153,590.
What does the Census say about the background of Zuby?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zuby, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (6.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zuby in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.4% (93 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zuby appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.4%), Two or More Races (6.7%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%). 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 Zuby (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 Zuby mean?
Name derived from the Arabic word "zubaydah" meaning "little deer" or "little gazelle". 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 Zuby (0.03 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 many people have the surname Zuby?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.