Explore the Family Name Zia
The meaning of Zia
1. Muslim (mainly Pakistan): from a personal name based on a Persian and Urdu spelling of Arabic ḍiyāʿ ‘light, glow, illumination’ (Koran 10:5). This is used to form names in combinations such as Zia ul-Haq ‘light of the truth’ and Zia ur-Rahman ‘light of the most gracious’. 2. Chinese: variant of the surname 謝, based on its pronunciation in Shanghai dialect, see Xie 1. Some characteristic forenames: Arabic/Muslim Mohammad, Ahmad, Tariq, Amir, Anjum, Asif, Bahram, Omar, Rashid, Sultan, Syed, Abdul.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zia in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Zia has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 25,169th in terms of common surnames in the United States, with a count of 924 bearers. By 2010, its rank had jumped to 18,486th, a rise of 26.55%. The total count of Zia's also rose by 61.8% to 1,495. This means that for every 100,000 people in the U.S., the proportion named Zia increased from 0.34 to 0.51, a 50% surge over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,169 | #18,486 | 26.55% |
| Count | 924 | 1,495 | 61.8% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.51 | 50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zia
When it comes to ethnic identity associated with the Zia surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals several shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest group identifying as Zia were those of Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity, growing from 55.95% in 2000 to 67.56% in 2010, a change of 20.75%. Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals with this surname who identified as white decreased by 25.23%, going from 30.95% to 23.14%. Those claiming two or more races also diminished by 40.10%, now representing 6.29% of all Zias. Lastly, while the Hispanic representation among Zias saw a marginal increase of 10.19%, reaching 2.27%, there were no individuals with this surname who identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 55.95% | 67.56% | 20.75% |
| White | 30.95% | 23.14% | -25.23% |
| Two or More Races | 10.5% | 6.29% | -40.1% |
| Hispanic | 2.06% | 2.27% | 10.19% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |