Explore the Family Name Zayas
The meaning of Zayas
Spanish: habitational name from Zayas de Torre or, in some cases, from Zayas de Báscones, both in Soria province, which probably derive their names from Basque zai, zain ‘guardian, vigilante’. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Luis, Carlos, Juan, Francisco, Julio, Angel, Enrique, Jesus, Roberto, Fernando, Mario.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zayas in the United States?
The popularity of the surname Zayas increased from the year 2000 to 2010, based on data collected in the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Zayas was ranked as the 5025th most common surname, but by 2010 it had become the 4414th most common - a rise in popularity of about 12.16%. The number of people with this surname also saw a significant increase over the same time period. In 2000, there were about 6410 individuals named Zayas, and by 2010 that figure had risen to 8045, marking a growth rate of 25.51%. The frequency of the surname per 100,000 people also grew by 14.71%, from 2.38 in 2000 to 2.73 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,025 | #4,414 | 12.16% |
| Count | 6,410 | 8,045 | 25.51% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.38 | 2.73 | 14.71% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zayas
The ethnic identity associated with the Zayas surname also experienced changes from 2000 to 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census. The percentage of Zayas individuals identifying as Hispanic saw a small increase of 3.36%, rising from 86.85% to 89.77%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those who identify as White decreased by 23.14% (from 10.5% to 8.07%). There was also a decrease in the proportion identifying as Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native. On the other hand, the Asian/Pacific Islander group observed an increase of 36%, albeit from a smaller base of 0.50% to 0.68%. Those identifying with two or more races saw their share decrease by 36%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 86.85% | 89.77% | 3.36% |
| White | 10.5% | 8.07% | -23.14% |
| Black | 1.68% | 1.13% | -32.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.5% | 0.68% | 36% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.22% | 0.19% | -13.64% |
| Two or More Races | 0.25% | 0.16% | -36% |
Zayas ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Zayas is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 51.4% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Indigenous American (12.4%) and British & Irish (9.0%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Italian, Nigerian, Senegambian & Guinean, and Eastern European.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 51.4% |
| Indigenous American | 12.4% |
| British & Irish | 9.0% |
| Other | 27.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Zayas
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Zayas have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in Spain, and Cuba.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Andalusia, Spain | 58.50% |
| Canary Islands, Spain | 57.90% |
| Galicia, Spain | 57.90% |
| Havana, Cuba | 56.10% |
| Santiago De Cuba, Cuba | 54.90% |
What Zayas haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Zayas is R-Z225, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z225 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-L51, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Berrios, Shockley, Lugo, Reynoso, Castano, Feliciano, Lucero, Plunkett, Mather, Mercado.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zayas surname are: A2, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to some of the first Americans
Though the Ice Age was beginning to retreat when your A2 ancestors first entered North America, there were still massive barriers blocking their way. Glaciers and inhospitable climate covered much of the continent, blocking entry into the interior. Nonetheless, researchers have found evidence that a wave of American founders migrated over 13,000 kilometers to reach southern Chile in only 2,000 years, a blink of an eye in the story of human migration! Their highway to the south was the coast of the Pacific, stocked with fish, diverse marine mammals, and other valuable resources in the rich kelp forests of the upper latitudes and in the abundant fresh-water rivers near the equator. Because of this rapid movement south, the A2 haplogroup and its diverse branches are found throughout North and South America.
What do people with the surname Zayas have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Zayas" Surname 32.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Zayas" Surname 47.2%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zayas" Surname 24.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Zayas" Surname 20.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zayas?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Zayas are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition