2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zunica
A locational surname originating from the town of Zunica in Spain.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Zunica. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zunica 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
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Zunica in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zunica, the largest self-reported group is White at 49.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (44.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zunica
The surname Zunica originates from Croatia, specifically from the Dalmatian region along the Adriatic coast. The name Zunica can be traced back to medieval times, with its roots likely found in Venetian influence and Slavic linguistic evolution. Dalmatia, historically under various rules including Venetian, Byzantine, and Hungarian, provided a melting pot for names, resulting in unique surnames like Zunica.
Zunica is derived from the Croatian word "zun" or "zvuk," meaning "sound" or "tinkle." It is plausible that the surname originally pertained to people who worked as bell ringers or something related to producing sounds. Similar spellings like Žunica, with the diacritical mark on the Z, can be found in old records. These variations in spelling point to the regional dialects and transcription practices of the medieval period.
The surname Zunica appeared in early manuscripts and church records from the 15th century, reflecting the emergence of family names in the medieval period. One early recorded example includes a Marin Zunica, documented in 1497 in Dubrovnik's city archives. Such records were often meticulously kept by the church or governing officials, marking important information about the local populace.
In the 16th century, a notable figure, Jakov Zunica, is recorded to have served as a merchant in the city of Zadar, contributing to the vibrant trade connections between Croatia and the Venetian Republic. His activities are mentioned in trade documents from the period, underscoring the commercial connections of the family name. Another historical reference is found in the 17th century, involving a Petar Zunica, who was a member of the local militia in the region of Split, playing a role in defending the town against Ottoman incursions.
During the 18th century, a priest named Frano Zunica became well-known for his work within the church and his advocacy for education in rural Dalmatian areas. Born in 1715 and passing away in 1780, Frano Zunica left a lasting impact on the local community, contributing to the spread of literacy and religious education.
In the 19th century, the name gained prominence through Ivan Zunica, who was born in 1823 and became notable as a writer and a historian dedicated to documenting Dalmatia's rich history. His works remained influential for future scholars studying the region, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the surname Zunica.
By the 20th century, prominent figures like Ante Zunica, born in 1889, emerged. Ante Zunica was a respected academic who contributed significantly to Croatian literature and linguistics. He remained a vital part of academic circles until his death in 1965, continuing the legacy of the Zunica surname within Croatian intellectual realms.
The surname Zunica, with its etymological and historical roots deeply embedded in the Dalmatian region of Croatia, has over centuries been associated with various professions, historical records, and significant individuals who have contributed to their societies in meaningful ways. The name reflects a rich cultural heritage shaped by the historical and linguistic influences of its origin country.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zunica
Among Census respondents with the surname Zunica, the largest self-reported group is White at 49.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (44.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Zunica 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 Zunica surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White49.1% · 55
- Hispanic or Latino44.6% · 50
- Asian and Pacific Islander3.6% · 4
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zunica
Zunica appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#131,379
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
+16 bearers (+14.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,404 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-17 bearers (-13.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 16,575 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #131,379 | 129 | 0.04 | +16 bearers (+14.2%) | Up 5,404 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | -17 bearers (-13.2%) | Down 16,575 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 Zunica 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 | #131,379 | #147,954 | -12.6% |
| Count | 129 | 112 | -13.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zunica bearers went from 129 to 112 (-13.2% change). The surname moved down 16,575 positions in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #147,954.
FAQ
Zunica surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zunica?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Zunica. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Zunica?
Zunica ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 112 people with the surname Zunica. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Zunica.
Has Zunica become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zunica went from 129 recorded bearers to 112. That is a decrease of 17 (-13.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #131,379 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Zunica?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zunica, the largest self-reported group is White at 49.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (44.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (3.6%). 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 Zunica in the 2020 Census, accounting for 49.1% (55 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zunica appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (49.1%), Hispanic (44.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (3.6%). 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 Zunica (2000, 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 Zunica mean?
A locational surname originating from the town of Zunica in Spain. 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 Zunica (0.04 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 Americans have the surname Zunica?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.