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

Zyra, 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 Zyra surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Zyra in America

Zyra is the 143847th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zyra surname appeared 106 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zyra.

The history of the last name Zyra

The surname Zyra has its origins in Eastern Europe, with etymological roots tracing back to Poland and surrounding regions. It emerged during the medieval times, specifically around the 14th to 15th centuries, a period marked by significant demographic shifts and clan-based settlement patterns. This name is derived from the Old Polish word "żyr-", which means "to synthesize" or "to join together," indicating an occupation related to crafting or assembly.

In terms of geographical origins, the surname Zyra was most commonly found in the administrative regions of Lesser Poland Voivodeship. There are historical references to the name in various old Polish manuscripts, including tax registers from the late 15th century, which document inhabitants and their contributions to local lords.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zyra appears in the Kraków region around the year 1492, where an individual by the name of Jakub Zyra was listed in municipal records. This suggests the name had settled into its modern form by the late medieval period.

Another significant historical figure bearing the surname Zyra was Stanisław Zyra (1605 – 1671), a notable merchant in the city of Gdańsk. His commercial activities, particularly in the Baltic trade, were documented in various city records and trading logs of the Hanseatic League.

In addition to these early individuals, Jan Zyra (1724 – 1783) gained prominence as a local official in Warsaw during the late 18th century. His contributions to the community are recorded in several civic documents, highlighting the administrative roles often undertaken by those with this surname.

In the 19th century, the name Zyra was associated with a notable figure in the world of science, Dr. Joachim Zyra (1808 – 1879), who was a pioneering chemist in the region of Silesia. His research and published works on mineralogy were influential during the era of burgeoning scientific exploration.

Elżbieta Zyra (1881 – 1962), a distinguished writer and social activist, further brought recognition to the surname in the early 20th century. Her literary contributions and advocacy for women's rights in Poland are well-documented, including several publications that remain studied in academic circles.

Throughout history, the surname Zyra has been associated with various professions and contributions, deeply embedded in the history and cultural evolution of Eastern Europe. The lasting legacy of individuals bearing this surname continues to highlight its significance across multiple centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zyra

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zyra 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.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zyra, 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!