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

Zuo, 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 Zuo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuo in America

Zuo is the 27974th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuo surname appeared 857 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 Zuo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuo 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 Zuo

The surname Zuo has its origins in China, an ancient civilization with a rich tapestry of history and culture. The name is thought to have originated during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC), a time when Chinese society started codifying surnames among the noble families. The character for Zuo (左) means "left" in modern Mandarin and was likely derived from an old term used to describe a prominent position in the administration or within a family lineage.

The surname Zuo is historically associated with regions in China, particularly in the areas that comprise modern-day Henan and Shandong provinces. These regions were significant cultural and political centers during the Zhou and subsequent dynasties. Older spellings and variations of Zuo can be found in ancient Chinese records, including the Classic of Poetry (Shijing), where various clans and their names were chronicled.

Historically, the name Zuo has appeared in classical Chinese texts and records. One of the earliest known references can be found in the Zuozhuan, or the Commentary of Zuo, an ancient Chinese narrative history that offers insight into the political and social transitions during the Spring and Autumn period (771-476 BC). Another significant historical figure is Zuo Qiuming, a prominent historian and the attributed author of the Zuozhuan, who lived around the fifth century BC.

One notable person bearing the surname Zuo is Zuo Zongtang (1812-1885), also known as General Tso, a Qing Dynasty statesman and military leader. He played a crucial role in suppressing various rebellions and is famously associated with the popular Chinese dish General Tso's chicken, though the dish's connection to him is apocryphal.

Another prominent individual is Zuo Si (250-305), a poet from the Western Jin Dynasty celebrated for his literary talent and contributions to the "Poems on History" genre. His work is remembered for its historical and moralistic themes, reflecting the turbulent times of the era.

In the modern era, Zuo Enlin (1893-1973) was a noted agronomist and educator who significantly contributed to agricultural science in China. His research and innovations in crop cultivation left a lasting impact on agricultural practices.

Zuo Huang (1916-2015) was a distinguished Chinese actress and a pioneer of modern Chinese theater. Her contributions to the performing arts spanned several decades, influencing a generation of actors and directors.

Zuo Xiaozuzhou (1927-1982), also known as Chu Tuck-chu, was a prominent Chinese diplomat who played a key role in establishing diplomatic relations between China and various other countries during a transformative period in Chinese history.

The surname Zuo has thus been tied to various influential figures across different fields and historical periods, reflecting its enduring presence in Chinese culture and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuo

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

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

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

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