2000
#54,880
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 351
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.13
Very Rare Last name
Zubieta
A Basque surname derived from the words "zubi" (bridge) and "eta" (and).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 546 Americans carry the last name Zubieta. That puts it at #47,959 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 627,755 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Zubieta 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
546
1 in 627,755
Census rank
#47,959
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
476
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 476 bearers of the surname Zubieta in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 47959th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Zubieta, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 82.8%. The next largest groups are White (11.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Zubieta
The surname Zubieta originates from the Basque Country, a region straddling the border between modern-day Spain and France known for its unique language and culture. The name is derived from Basque terms, translating roughly as "bridge" (zubi) and "place" (eta), indicating a location near a bridge. This suggests the surname may have originally described individuals who lived by or were associated with a notable bridge.
Historical references to the surname Zubieta can be traced back to medieval times. The earliest known documentation of the surname appears in parish records and legal documents from the 14th century. A notable early mention includes a 1350 record in the archives of the Kingdom of Navarre, where a certain Pedro de Zubieta was listed as a landowner. This reference points to the name's deep roots in the region’s history.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Juan de Zubieta, born around 1450, who served as a councilman in the town of San Sebastián. Another early reference is Mikel de Zubieta, mentioned in the early 16th century, particularly in a 1525 deed of sale recorded in Gipuzkoa province. These individuals illustrate the status and influence of the Zubieta family in regional affairs during that period.
Throughout the centuries, the name Zubieta remained prominent in the Basque Country and even spread to other regions. A significant figure includes Martín de Zubieta, a naval captain born in 1580, who contributed to Spain’s maritime expeditions during its Golden Age. Furthermore, Diego de Zubieta, born in 1605, became known for his writings on Basque culture and was an early chronicler of the region's traditions.
Place names such as the village of Zubieta in the Basque province of Navarre also highlight the geographical spread and historical significance of the surname. The village, known for its picturesque landscapes and cultural heritage, has been inhabited since at least the Middle Ages, reinforcing the long-standing presence of the Zubieta name in the area.
In the 19th century, another notable individual was the military leader José de Zubieta, born in 1801, who played a significant role during the First Carlist War in Spain, fighting for traditionalist causes. His exploits were well-documented and demonstrated the enduring legacy of the surname in Spanish history.
The surname Zubieta continues to be recognized for its historical depth and connection to the Basque heritage. The combined meaning of "bridge place" underscores the importance of geographic landmarks in the development of surnames and reflects the landscape and experiences of the people who bore the name throughout history. The endurance of the name across centuries, carried by notable individuals, highlights its rich cultural and historical significance.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Zubieta
Among Census respondents with the surname Zubieta, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 82.8%. The next largest groups are White (11.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Zubieta 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 Zubieta surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino82.8% · 394
- White11.1% · 53
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.4% · 21
- Two or more races1.3% · 6
- Black or African American0.2% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Zubieta
Zubieta 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
#45,105
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 475
+124 bearers (+35.3%)
Per 100,000 0.16
Rank movement Up 9,775 places
2020
#47,959
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 476
+1 bearers (+0.2%)
Per 100,000 0.16
Rank movement Down 2,854 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #54,880 | 351 | 0.13 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #45,105 | 475 | 0.16 | +124 bearers (+35.3%) | Up 9,775 places |
| 2020 | #47,959 | 476 | 0.16 | +1 bearers (+0.2%) | Down 2,854 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 Zubieta 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 | #45,105 | #47,959 | -6.3% |
| Count | 475 | 476 | 0.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.16 | 0.16 | -0.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Zubieta bearers went from 475 to 476 (+0.2% change). The surname moved down 2,854 positions in the national ranking, going from #45,105 to #47,959.
FAQ
Zubieta surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Zubieta?
Name Census estimates that about 546 living Americans carry the surname Zubieta. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 627,755 residents.
How common is Zubieta?
Zubieta ranks #47,959 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.16 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 476 people with the surname Zubieta. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (546), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.16 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.16 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 Zubieta.
Has Zubieta become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Zubieta went from 475 recorded bearers to 476. That is an increase of 1 (+0.2%). In the national ranking it fell from #45,105 to #47,959.
What does the Census say about the background of Zubieta?
Among Census respondents with the surname Zubieta, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 82.8%. The next largest groups are White (11.1%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.4%). 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?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Zubieta in the 2020 Census, accounting for 82.8% (394 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Zubieta appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (82.8%), White (11.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (4.4%). 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 Zubieta (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 Zubieta mean?
A Basque surname derived from the words "zubi" (bridge) and "eta" (and). 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 Zubieta (0.16 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 share the surname Zubieta?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.