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

Zumbo, 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 Zumbo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zumbo in America

Zumbo is the 55386th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zumbo surname appeared 371 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 Zumbo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zumbo 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 Zumbo

The surname Zumbo is believed to have origins in Italy, specifically from the southern regions such as Calabria and Sicily. The name likely emerged during the late medieval period, roughly around the 14th or 15th century. This area was characterized by a mixture of cultures and languages, influenced by Greek, Arabic, Norman, and Spanish rule over different periods. The name may have a connection to the Arabic word Zamba, which means talkative or conversational, reflecting the diverse etymological influences present in Southern Italy at the time.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of a similar surname appears in church and civil records from the 16th century. For example, a compilation of baptismal records from the town of Reggio Calabria indicates the presence of the family name Zumbo as early as 1583. These early records suggest that the name was relatively well-established in the region by this time.

A significant historical figure bearing the surname Zumbo is Gaetano Zumbo, an Italian sculptor born in Syracuse, Sicily in 1656 and known for his detailed wax anatomical models. He worked across Italy and France, making significant contributions to medical science through his accurate wax representations of the human body. Gaetano Zumbo passed away in Paris in 1701, leaving behind a legacy of artistic and scientific importance.

In the mid-18th century, records from Palermo show multiple instances of families with the surname Zumbo, indicating the name's spread across Sicily. A well-documented individual from this period is Father Giuseppe Zumbo, a Jesuit priest born in 1723 who became known for his missionary work in the Americas. His contributions to education and religious life were noted in church archives until his death in 1790.

By the 19th century, the surname appears with increased frequency in emigrant records, as individuals and families with the surname Zumbo left Italy in search of better opportunities abroad. Giovanni Zumbo, born in 1808 in Naples, is an example of this wave of migration. He moved to the United States in 1845, where he later became a successful merchant in New York City. Giovanni's story is indicative of the broader Italian diaspora during this period.

Another notable person with the surname is Maria Zumbo, a renowned Italian opera singer born in 1850 in Florence. She was celebrated for her performances in major European opera houses during the late 19th century. Her career extended into the early 20th century before she retired in 1905. Her contributions to the arts were recognized by numerous accolades and the Italian government.

The history of the surname Zumbo reveals a rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences, with roots in Southern Italy and a presence that expanded through art, religion, migration, and science.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zumbo

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!