Explore the Family Name Zito
The meaning of Zito
Italian (southern): from the southern Italian dialect word zitu, zito ‘boy, young bachelor, fiancé’, used as a nickname and also as a medieval personal name. Compare Lo Zito. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Salvatore, Rocco, Angelo, Vito, Antonio, Sal, Santo, Carmine, Pasquale, Alfonse, Aniello, Calogero.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Zito in the United States?
According to data derived from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Zito" has seen a minor decrease between 2000 and 2010. Ranked at 6033 in 2000, its ranking dropped to 6461 in 2010, marking a 7.09% decrease. However, the count for individuals with this surname remained relatively stable with a slight increase of 0.17%, moving from 5248 individuals in 2000 to 5257 individuals in 2010. The proportion per 100k also experienced a dip from 1.95 in 2000 to 1.78 in 2010, reflecting an 8.72% decrease.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,033 | #6,461 | -7.09% |
| Count | 5,248 | 5,257 | 0.17% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.95 | 1.78 | -8.72% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Zito
The analysis of ethnicity associated with the surname "Zito", based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, presents some interesting shifts in the ten-year period between 2000 and 2010. The majority of individuals identifying with this surname are White, although the percentage dropped slightly from 95.62% in 2000 to 94.58% in 2010. The Hispanic representation within this surname saw an increase of 39.74%, moving from 2.34% to 3.27%. Asian/Pacific Islander representation also increased by 123.33%, albeit from a small base of 0.30% to 0.67%. Those identifying as two or more races decreased by 18.10%, Black representation increased by 17.65%, while American Indian and Alaskan Native representation saw a significant decline of 43.48%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.62% | 94.58% | -1.09% |
| Hispanic | 2.34% | 3.27% | 39.74% |
| Two or More Races | 1.16% | 0.95% | -18.1% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.3% | 0.67% | 123.33% |
| Black | 0.34% | 0.4% | 17.65% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.23% | 0.13% | -43.48% |
Zito 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 Zito is Italian, which comprises 38.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (27.3%) and French & German (12.8%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, Scandinavian, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Italian | 38.6% |
| British & Irish | 27.3% |
| French & German | 12.8% |
| Other | 21.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Zito
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 Zito have recent ancestry locations spanning a few countries, mostly in Italy, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Sicily, Italy | 64.10% |
| Campania, Italy | 62.80% |
| Calabria, Italy | 60.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 57.90% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 57.90% |
What Zito 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 Zito is J-L25, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup J-L25 is descended from haplogroup J-M304. Other common haplogroups include E-M5021 and R-U152, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Carbone, Alfano, Bosco, Demarco, D'Amico, Messina, Marino, Martino, Mahler, Stoll.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Zito surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins J-M304Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Zito 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.
"Zito" Surname 41.7%
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.
"Zito" Surname 33.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Zito" Surname 18.2%
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.
"Zito" Surname 11.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Zito?
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 Zito are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition