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

Baffa, 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 Baffa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Baffa in America

Baffa is the 55619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Baffa surname appeared 369 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 Baffa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Baffa 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 Baffa

The surname Baffa has its origins in Italy, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the Italian word "baffo," which means "mustache" or "whiskers." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone with a prominent mustache or beard.

In its early days, the name was often spelled with variations such as Baffa, Baffа, or Baffi, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical documents from the city of Naples, dating back to the 14th century.

The Baffa name appears to have been particularly prominent in the southern regions of Italy, including the regions of Campania, Calabria, and Sicily. During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bearing this surname emerged, such as the renowned painter and architect Gian Lorenzo Baffa (1504-1573), whose works can still be admired in churches and palaces across Italy.

Another prominent figure was the philosopher and theologian Tommaso Baffa (1472-1548), who was a member of the Dominican Order and authored several influential treatises on theology and ethics. His works were widely circulated and studied in universities across Europe during the 16th century.

In the realm of literature, the name Baffa is associated with the poet and playwright Giovanni Baffa (1615-1680), whose works were highly regarded in his time and continue to be studied by scholars of Italian literature.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Baffa gained further prominence with the birth of Antonio Baffa (1718-1793), a celebrated composer and violinist who contributed significantly to the development of Neapolitan opera and orchestral music.

Another notable figure was the military leader and statesman Gennaro Baffa (1775-1853), who played a pivotal role in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as a general in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

While the Baffa surname has its roots in Italy, over the centuries, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Italian peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Baffa

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

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 Baffa 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 Baffa 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 Baffa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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