History of your Surname
Get access to Zapata family records.Start a free trial

Zapata Family History

Zapata Name Meaning

Spanish and Galician: possibly also a habitational name from any of the places in Pontevedra and Ávila called Zapata. Spanish: metonymic occupational name for a cobbler or shoemaker from zapato ‘half boot’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Zagata, Salata, Lapa, Zapatka, Zawada, Zabala, Zappa, Arata, Zappia

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Zapata family from?

You can see how Zapata families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Zapata family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Zapata families were found in USA in 1920. In 1880 there were 90 Zapata families living in Texas. This was about 87% of all the recorded Zapata's in USA. Texas had the highest population of Zapata families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Zapata surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Zapata ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Zapata. 44% of Zapata men worked as a Laborer and 13% of Zapata women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Zapata were Farm Labor and Farm Laborer. .

View Census Data for Zapata | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    44%
  • Farmer
    12%
  • Farm Laborer
    8%
  • Farm Labor
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    13%
  • Costurera
    11%
  • Laborer
    11%
  • Farm Laborer
    9%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Zapata family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Zapata. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Zapata census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Zapata

Passenger Lists

There are 11,000 immigration records available for the last name Zapata. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Zapata immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Zapata. For the veterans among your Zapata ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Zapata military records

You've only scratched the surface of Zapata family history

Discover More

What is the average Zapata lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Zapata life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Zapata in 1944 was 23, and 63 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Zapata

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Zapata family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Zapata last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial