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

Zulaica, 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 Zulaica surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zulaica in America

Zulaica is the 93513th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zulaica surname appeared 196 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 Zulaica.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zulaica 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 Zulaica

The surname Zulaica has its origins in the Basque Country, a region that spans areas of northern Spain and southwestern France. The Basque people have a distinct and ancient language known as Euskara, which has heavily influenced local surnames. Zulaica is thought to come from this linguistic tradition, specifically derivative from words within the Basque language. The name can be broken down into elements that suggest a relationship to geographic features, possibly indicating a place associated with water or valleys.

The surname Zulaica is first recorded in historical documents from the 15th century in Spain. Ancient records show variations in its spelling, such as Zulaika and Zulaiza, evidencing regional differences in spelling conventions over time. One of the earliest mentions is found in ecclesiastical records from the Gipuzkoa province, indicating the use of the name in parish registers and transactions.

One documented individual is Martín de Zulaica, a resident in Gipuzkoa who appears in a 1489 land grant, making him one of the earliest known bearers of the surname. His descendants continued to use the surname, and it often appears in local legal documents, suggesting that the family held some social prominence in the area. Another prominent figure is Juan de Zulaica, born in 1542, a noted merchant who played a significant role in the trade circuits between the Basque Country and the Iberian Peninsula.

During the 17th century, the name appears in records of maritime activities, with records of Tomás de Zulaica, born in 1608, a seafarer who was part of the Basque whaling expeditions. This suggests that the Zulaica family was adaptable and engaged in various economic activities, from agriculture to seafaring.

Moving into the 18th century, Francisco de Zulaica y Gorostola, born in 1770, gained recognition for involvement in local governance. He was a well-known municipal figure in Gipuzkoa, where he contributed to numerous civic projects. His efforts and public service underscore the continued local prominence of the Zulaica surname.

In the 19th century, the name Zulaica was carried forward by Domingo Zulaica, born in 1825, an influential lawyer and political figure in the Basque Country. His writings and legal work reflect the intellectual contributions of the family to Spanish society.

The surname Zulaica, through its various spellings and multiple generations, illustrates a rich tapestry of local heritage, geographic significance, and historical presence in the Basque region. It remains a testament to the enduring legacy of Basque culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zulaica

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

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

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

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