Find out how popular the last name Acanfora is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Acanfora.

Acanfora, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Acanfora surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acanfora in America

Acanfora is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acanfora surname appeared 122 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Acanfora.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acanfora to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Acanfora

The surname Acanfora originated in Italy, specifically in the southern region of Campania. Its roots can be traced back to the Latin word "acanthus," which refers to the plant known as bear's breeches or bear's acanthus. This plant was widely used in ancient Greek and Roman architecture as a decorative element on the capitals of Corinthian columns.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Acanfora can be found in medieval documents from the 13th and 14th centuries in the city of Naples and its surrounding areas. It is believed that the name was initially used to identify individuals who either cultivated or worked with the acanthus plant, possibly as artisans or craftsmen involved in architectural ornamentation.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Acanfora was Giacomo Acanfora, a prominent merchant and banker from Naples who lived in the late 15th century. His name appears in various records related to trade and financial transactions during the Renaissance period.

In the 16th century, the Acanfora family gained prominence in the city of Salerno, where they were involved in the legal profession and held influential positions. Notable members include Girolamo Acanfora (1525-1591), a renowned jurist and legal scholar who authored several treatises on civil and canon law.

During the 17th century, the name Acanfora spread to other regions of Italy, such as Calabria and Sicily. Francesco Acanfora (1636-1701) was a respected philosopher and theologian from Reggio Calabria, known for his contributions to the study of metaphysics and ethics.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe Acanfora (1820-1887) was a prominent Italian painter and sculptor from Naples. His works, which often depicted scenes from everyday life and folklore, are highly regarded and can be found in several museums and private collections.

Another notable figure with the surname Acanfora was Vincenzo Acanfora (1872-1948), a Italian-American architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the development of New York City's infrastructure and public works projects in the early 20th century.

While the surname Acanfora is not as common as some other Italian surnames, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields over the centuries, reflecting the diverse talents and achievements of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acanfora

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Acanfora.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Acanfora was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Acanfora has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Acanfora was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Acanfora, please contact us.

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