Agosta
Derived from a place name in Sicily, Italy, likely referring to someone who originated from that area.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,405 Americans carry the last name Agosta. That puts it at #21,686 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.41 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 243,953 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Agosta surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
1.4K
1 in 243,953
Census rank
#21,686
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,201 bearers of the surname Agosta in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.41 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 21686th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Agosta, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Agosta
The surname AGOSTA has its origins in Italy, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "agosto," meaning "August," which suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone born or associated with the month of August.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents from the regions of Sicily and Calabria in southern Italy. It is possible that the name originated as a nickname or a reference to a person's birth month or a significant event that occurred during the month of August.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name AGOSTA was Giovanni Agosta, a Sicilian merchant who lived in the late 13th century. Records show that he traded goods between Sicily and the Italian mainland, contributing to the economic prosperity of the region.
In the 15th century, the AGOSTA surname appeared in the records of the city of Naples, where a family of that name owned a prosperous vineyard and produced highly regarded wines. Domenico Agosta, born in 1432, was a renowned winemaker whose products were sought after by the nobility of the time.
During the Renaissance period, the AGOSTA name gained prominence in the arts. Pietro Agosta, a Sicilian painter born in 1501, was renowned for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches throughout southern Italy.
In the 18th century, Vincenzo Agosta, a lawyer and political thinker from Calabria, became a prominent figure in the Italian Enlightenment. His writings on natural rights and the separation of powers influenced the development of modern political thought.
Another notable figure was Maria Agosta, a 19th-century poet and activist from Sicily, who advocated for women's rights and education. Her poems and essays challenged the societal norms of the time and inspired generations of women writers.
Throughout its history, the AGOSTA surname has been associated with various professions and achievements, from merchants and artists to intellectuals and activists, leaving an indelible mark on Italian culture and society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Agosta
Among Census respondents with the surname Agosta, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Agosta bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Agosta surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.2%
- Hispanic or Latino10.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- Two or more races0.6%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Agosta surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #19,313 | #21,686 | -12.3% |
| Count | 1,298 | 1,201 | -7.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.48 | 0.41 | -14.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Agosta bearers went from 1,298 to 1,201 (-7.5% change). The surname moved down 2,373 positions in the national ranking, going from #19,313 to #21,686.
FAQ
Agosta surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Agosta?
The surname Agosta holds position #21,686 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,405 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.41 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Agosta surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Agosta, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.