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

Zuza, 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 Zuza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zuza in America

Zuza is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zuza surname appeared 140 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 Zuza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zuza 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 Zuza

The surname Zuza is believed to have its origins in Spain, particularly from the Basque region in the northern part of the country. The Basque Country has long been known for its unique language and culture, which have distinct traits from the rest of Spain. Historical estimates place the emergence of the surname in the early medieval period, roughly around the 12th century.

Zuza is thought to derive from the Basque word "Zuzan," which means "to turn" or "to direct". This etymology suggests that the early bearers of the name may have been people who were guides, leaders, or possibly navigators. There is no direct evidence, but the occupational roots of surnames from the Basque region often played pivotal roles in their communities.

Historical records show that the surname Zuza appears in various legal documents and parish registers from the late 13th to 15th centuries. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname is in a 1297 manuscript from the province of Gipuzkoa, where a Juan de Zuza is mentioned as a witness in a land transaction. This document provides a clear indication that the surname was already established in the region by this time.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Zuza appears in multiple records across other parts of Spain. A prominent figure during this time was Pedro de Zuza, a soldier under the reign of King Philip II of Spain who was born in 1542 and was active in the Spanish Armada before his death in 1601. He played a significant role in several naval battles, making the name Zuza well known in military circles.

Another notable individual is María de Zuza, a nun who lived from 1605 to 1678. She was a member of the Order of Saint Clare and known for her charitable work in the Navarre region. Her diaries, which have been preserved in the convent archives, provide a remarkable glimpse into the life and social conditions of her time.

In the 18th century, the surname Zuza spread further afield, appearing in records from various Spanish colonies in the Americas. One such figure is Diego Zuza, an explorer born in 1703 who played a key part in charting parts of South America. His maps and journals, which remain in the archives of Seville, were instrumental in the development of early colonial infrastructure.

In modern times, Zuza has also been recorded in Poland thanks to migration patterns during the 19th century, specifically in the Polish territories of the Russian Empire. A significant figure from this period is Kazimierz Zuza, born in 1845, who was a noted scholar of Slavic languages and contributed extensively to the preservation of Polish culture during times of partition.

Attention to the surname can also be noted in the 19th-century literary circles, with José Zuza, a novelist and poet who wrote extensively about the rural life of the Basque Country during the late 1800s. His works, though lesser-known today, were well-received in Spanish literary salons and provide a valuable cultural record of the time.

In summary, the surname Zuza has its roots in the Basque region of Spain, with its earliest documented appearances dating back to the medieval period. Its bearers have played varied roles throughout history, from military figures to explorers, scholars, and writers, making it a name with a rich and varied historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zuza

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

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

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

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