2000
#136,783
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Zadora
A surname derived from the Polish term meaning "gift."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Zadora. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zadora surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Zadora in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zadora, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zadora
The surname Zadora originates from Poland and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is primarily associated with the regions of Lesser Poland, which includes historic areas like Kraków and Sandomierz. The name Zadora is believed to have evolved from the Polish word "zadora," which means "obstacle" or "hindrance." It might have been used metaphorically to describe a person who was seen as a protector or someone who confronted obstacles.
One of the earliest references to the surname Zadora appears in Polish land records and noble registries from the 14th century. The name appears in documents related to the Szlachta — the noble class in Poland. It is also found in the heraldic traditions, specifically connected to the Zadora coat of arms. This coat of arms is known to have been used by various noble families in Poland, establishing the name's historical and noble significance.
An early recorded example of the surname is Jan Zadora, a nobleman who lived in the 15th century. His presence is documented in several legal and land transactions, highlighting the socio-economic status of the Zadora family. Another notable individual was Mikołaj Zadora, born around 1480, who served as a knight and was involved in the military campaigns of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He played a significant role in the Battle of Orsha in 1514.
Moving into the 17th century, the name continued to hold prominence through figures like Andrzej Zadora, who was a significant member of the Szlachta and was involved in the political dealings of the time. His name appears in several parliamentary records from the era, reflecting his influence and status. Another important figure from the 18th century was Wojciech Zadora, an officer in the Polish military, who participated in numerous conflicts during the turbulent years leading up to the partitions of Poland.
By the 19th century, the surname Zadora had spread to various parts of Europe due to migrations and political upheavals. Stanisław Zadora, born in 1835, was a participant in the January Uprising of 1863, a Polish insurrection against the Russian Empire. His efforts and sacrifices in the struggle for independence are well-documented.
In more recent historical contexts, Zadora has also been a surname associated with artistic and cultural contributions. Helena Zadora, born in 1889, was a noted Polish painter and member of the cultural elite in Kraków. Her works, which often depicted rural Polish life, are exhibited in several museums today.
The surname Zadora thus carries a rich history woven into the fabric of Polish nobility, military endeavors, and cultural contributions spanning several centuries. Each bearer of the name has added to its legacy, ensuring its continued recognition and historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zadora
Among Census respondents with the surname Zadora, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Zadora bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Zadora surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4% · 109
- Hispanic or Latino5.9% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8% · 1
- Two or more races0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zadora
Zadora appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#139,228
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
+7 bearers (+6.2%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,445 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
-2 bearers (-1.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,283 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #136,783 | 113 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #139,228 | 120 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.2%) | Down 2,445 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | -2 bearers (-1.7%) | Down 4,283 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Zadora surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #139,228 | #143,511 | -3.1% |
| Count | 120 | 118 | -1.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zadora bearers went from 120 to 118 (-1.7% change). The surname moved down 4,283 positions in the national ranking, going from #139,228 to #143,511.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Zadora
FAQ
Zadora surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zadora?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Zadora. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Zadora?
Zadora ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Zadora. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Zadora.
Has Zadora become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zadora went from 120 recorded bearers to 118. That is a decrease of 2 (-1.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #139,228 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Zadora?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zadora, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (0.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zadora in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.4% (109 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zadora appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.4%), Hispanic (5.9%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Zadora (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Zadora mean?
A surname derived from the Polish term meaning "gift." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Zadora (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Zadora?
For a quick modern take, check how many people are called Zadora on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.