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

Zula, 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 Zula surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zula in America

Zula is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zula surname appeared 111 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 Zula.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zula 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 Zula

The surname Zula traces its origins to Eastern Europe, particularly Poland. The name is believed to have first appeared during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. During this time, many surnames were derived from geographical locations, professions, or were patronymic in nature. The name Zula likely originated from a small settlement or geographical feature, possibly a village or town, which no longer exists or has since been renamed.

The etymology of Zula can be traced to old Slavic languages. It is thought to derive from the word "żuł," which refers to a swamp or marshland, suggesting that the original bearers of the surname may have lived near such an area. Early records from the region, although scarce, hint at the presence of the name, but no concrete documents from the medieval era have survived to provide definitive evidence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Zula appears in the late 16th century. In 1592, a man named Jakub Zula is mentioned in local Polish court documents. These records suggest that Jakub was involved in a land dispute, which indicates that the Zula family might have been landowners or had some measure of local influence during that period.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Piotr Zula, born in 1610. He served as a minor nobleman in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was known for his contributions to local administration and governance. Piotr’s name appears in several municipal records from the 1650s, where he is noted for his involvement in regional politics and land management.

A significant historical reference to the surname occurs in the mid-18th century with Anna Zula, born in 1735. She is documented as a prominent benefactor of a monastery in what is now western Ukraine, reflecting the spread of the surname within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which included modern-day Ukraine during that period. Anna’s contributions are recorded in church annals, indicating her and her family’s devout Catholic faith and their support of religious institutions.

By the late 19th century, the surname had spread further afield. In 1867, Jan Zula, born in 1840, emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania. Jan worked as a coal miner, a common occupation for many immigrants from Eastern Europe at the time. His story is chronicled in letters and personal documents that have been preserved by his descendants, providing a glimpse into the life of an immigrant adapting to a new country while maintaining ties to his heritage.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Katarzyna Zula, born in 1902 in Warsaw, Poland. Katarzyna became known for her work as a resistance member during World War II, participating in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Her courage and dedication to her country's independence have been commemorated in post-war memorials and biographical accounts written by historians.

The surname Zula, albeit rare, carries with it a rich history tied to the landscapes and historical shifts of Eastern Europe. From land disputes and minor nobility to religious contributions and immigrant resilience, the name Zula encapsulates a diverse array of stories that have been woven into the broader tapestry of European history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zula

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

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

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

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