UK surname

Zola

A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from the name of an Italian village or place.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Zola surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Cornwall and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zola is 116 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5700.0%.

1881 census count

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2016

116 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• Zola had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Zola surname distribution map

The map shows where the Zola surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Zola surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Zola over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year	Period	Count	Rank
1881	historical	2	#33,721
1901	historical	5	#33,728
1911	historical	11	#32,463
1997	modern	24	#35,376
1998	modern	29	#34,948
1999	modern	30	#34,939
2000	modern	31	#34,798
2001	modern	29	#34,839
2002	modern	29	#35,030
2003	modern	36	#34,522
2004	modern	41	#34,306
2005	modern	44	#34,255
2006	modern	51	#33,992
2007	modern	53	#34,115
2008	modern	58	#33,918
2009	modern	59	#34,072
2010	modern	76	#33,009
2011	modern	73	#33,230
2012	modern	89	#31,934
2013	modern	102	#30,415
2014	modern	108	#29,658
2015	modern	107	#29,708
2016	modern	116	#28,197

Geography

Where Zolas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Cornwall, Barnet, Bromley and Camden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank	Parish	Area
1	No data	No data

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Birmingham 053	Birmingham
2	Cornwall 011	Cornwall
3	Barnet 008	Barnet
4	Bromley 007	Bromley
5	Camden 001	Camden

Forenames

First names often paired with Zola

These lists show first names that appear often with the Zola surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Naomi Janet Julia Christel Patricia Minnie Olga Lauren Anna Sandra

Recent male names

Patrick Miguel Gianfranco Timothy Benjamin Leslie Joshua Michael Daniel Marek

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Zola

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Zola, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Zola surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Zola household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Zola is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Zola is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Zola falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Zola is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Zola, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

Meaning and origin of Zola

The surname Zola originates from Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is widely associated with the northern regions of Italy, particularly in Lombardy. The name is believed to derive from the Italian word "zolla", which means a clod of earth, suggesting roots in agrarian culture or landowning families. This connection implies that the bearers of the surname were possibly involved in tilling the land or were of rural gentry.

The Zola surname has various spellings in ancient records, such as Zolla and Zolla, which are found in historical manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest references is noted in the archives of the Lombardy region, where the name appears in land deeds and contracts. The variations in spelling hint at the regional dialects and the evolution of the Italian language over time.

Among the notable figures with the surname Zola, Emile Zola (1840-1902) stands prominent. Although he was a renowned French novelist and critic, his surname indicates possible Italian roots. Emile Zola's literature had a profound impact on the naturalism movement in the 19th century. Another historical figure is Giuseppe Zola (1672-1743), an Italian Baroque painter known for his religious and mythological works.

Records from the 16th century also mention Francesco Zola, an engineer who contributed to significant civil and military engineering projects in Italy. His efforts in fortification design are documented in various Renaissance treatises. Giovanni Zola, a soldier from the early 15th century, is noted in historical military accounts for his role in the Italian Wars, where his strategic prowess earned him a place in several chronicles of the period.

Gianfranco Zola, born in 1966, though from the modern era, carries the legacy of the name in the realm of sports. His successful career as a football player and later as a coach brought international recognition, particularly in the English Premier League.

Historical texts and parish records from the 14th and 15th centuries in Lombardy list the surname Zola among the prominent families engaged in local governance and trade, signifying their influence and status within the region. Variants like Zolla appear in medieval tax registers, often indicating landholders or prosperous farmers.

The Zola surname, through its ancient roots and historical journey across Italy, demonstrates a rich tapestry of cultural and professional associations, from agriculture and engineering to literature and the arts. This diverse background underscores the enduring legacy of the name through centuries of Italian history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Zola families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Zola surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 2 Zolas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Middlesex	2	0.00%	10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 2 Zolas recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.95x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Islington London	2	0.00%	106.95x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Zola surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name	Count
Lucy	1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Zola surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name	Count
Antonio	1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Zola households.

Occupation	Count
Confectioner Employing Two Men	1

FAQ

Zola surname: questions and answers

How common was the Zola surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Zola surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Zola surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Zola a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Zola surname mean?