Surname Zennaro - Meaning and Origin
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Zennaro: What does the surname Zennaro mean?
The last name Zennaro is derived from the Venetian word “zenaro” meaning “arch” or “gate”. This indicates that the origin of the last name is likely from the northeastern region of Italy, as the Venetian language is mainly spoken in the regions of Venice, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and parts of Istria.
The surname could have been given to someone who lived by a gate or arch, or, more likely, to someone who was an archer. Archery was a popular pastime in medieval Italy and those who excelled at it would sometimes be granted a noble title, which was often accompanied by a surname.
It is also possible that Zennaro was used in reference to someone’s occupation, as the word “zenaro” can mean “maker of gates” or “door keeper”. This would indicate that someone with this last name likely had a job associated with providing access to places, such as a jailer at a prison gate or a guard at a castle gate.
Today, Zennaro is a quite a common name in certain parts of Italy and continues to be passed down from one generation to the next. So while it is impossible to know exactly what the last name means in its original context, it is clear that it either has a noble or occupational origin, and has had a long history in Italian culture.
Order DNA origin analysisZennaro: Where does the name Zennaro come from?
The last name Zennaro is most commonly found in Italy, particularly in the historical Italian-speaking regions, such as Veneto, Friuli, and Lombardy. In recent years, the surname has spread to other areas in Europe, Latin America, as well as the United States and Canada.
In Italy, the most recent census from 2020 shows that there are 9,314 people with the name Zennaro. It is also popular in Veneto, with the highest concentration of the last name in the city of Treviso. In Friuli, it is most commonly found in Cormons and in Lombardy, Zennaro is predominantly present in the province of Como.
In Europe, the last name is also found in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, as well as in Irland and the United Kingdom. In Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina, the surname is also present in increasing numbers.
In the United States, the Japanese-American actor, chef, and restaurateur Yutaka Zennaro, was born in Sierra Madre, California, in 1947. He moved to Japan in the late 1960's and made a name for himself as one of the most respected chefs of sushi and authentic Japanese cuisine. His daughter, Mimi Zennaro, is also a notable celebrity chef, famous for her cookbooks and TV appearances around the world.
The last name Zennaro is quite rare outside of Italy, but is steadily increasing in popularity in the other parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Zennaro
The surname Zennaro is an Italian name with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The common variants of Zennaro often used in Italy include Zenaro, Zenarri, Zennero, Zennari, and Zinnaro.
Outside of Italy, the surname is more commonly spelled as Zannari or Zannero. These two variants are used mainly in countries of Latin-American ancestry such as Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.
In northern Europe, the surname is often found as Sannero and Sennero, which is thought to be the German-ized version of the name.
The most common surnames of the same origin are Zenari, Zenarella, Zenarri, Zenato, and Zenatti. These surnames are typically found in the Veneto region of Italy.
Related surnames that are not necessarily of the same origin, but may be found in combination with a Zennaro surname are the surnames of Zecchetto, Zecchi, and Zucchetti.
In addition to the surname itself, there is also a place of origin in Italy known as Zennaro. Located northeast of Venice, this is a small area composed of just a handful of houses. It is believed that the name may come from a nearby church, San Zeno, which is speculated to be the origin of the Zennaro surname.
Overall, the surname Zennaro has various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, making it a particularly interesting source of research and exploration.
Famous people with the name Zennaro
- Rudy Zennaro: Soccer Player
- Mauro Zennaro: former General Manager of Sampdoria
- Ivan Zennaro: Chef
- Elio Zennaro: former Basketballl Player
- Roberto Zennaro: Politician
- Enrico Zennaro: former Coffee Grower
- Julio Zennaro: Former Argentine President
- Dino Zennaro: Former Footballer
- Sergio Zennaro: former Soccer goalkeeper
- Franca Zennaro- former Boxer
- Edly Zennaro: Former Figure Skater
- Luigina Zennaro: Writer and Storyteller
- Davide Zennaro: Sound Engineer
- Luciano Zennaro: Chef
- Nataly Zennaro: Professional Dancer
- Anna Zennaro: School teacher
- Pietro Zennaro: Architect
- Anita Zennaro: Designer
- Laura Zennaro: violinist
- Giuliano Zennaro: Sculptor