2000
#139,757
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 110
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bailo
A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from the Italian word "ballo" meaning "dance."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Bailo. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bailo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Bailo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bailo, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%) and Two or More Races (6.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bailo
The surname "BAILO" is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "baile," which means "dance" or "dancer." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was known for their skill or occupation as a dancer.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "BAILO" can be found in the historical archives of the city of Valencia, Spain, dating back to the 15th century. These records mention a family with the surname "BAILO" residing in the region during that time.
Another notable mention of the name "BAILO" appears in a 16th-century manuscript from the town of Seville, which refers to a local artist and painter named Juan BAILO (born around 1520). His works were known for their vibrant depictions of traditional Spanish dances and festivities.
In the 17th century, the name "BAILO" was also documented in the historical records of the Spanish colonial settlements in the Americas. One notable individual was Pedro BAILO (1625-1689), a Spanish explorer and navigator who played a role in the early colonization efforts in the Caribbean region.
Moving forward to the 18th century, there is a record of a prominent military officer named Miguel BAILO (1712-1781) who served in the Spanish army during the reign of King Carlos III. He was known for his bravery and leadership in various military campaigns.
In the 19th century, the surname "BAILO" gained recognition in the field of literature with the works of the Spanish poet and playwright, Emilia BAILO (1838-1905). Her romantic verses and plays were widely acclaimed and celebrated during her lifetime.
While these are just a few examples, the surname "BAILO" has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins deeply rooted in Spain and its cultural traditions. The name's connection to dance and artistic expression has been a recurring theme throughout its evolution.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bailo
Among Census respondents with the surname Bailo, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%) and Two or More Races (6.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Bailo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Bailo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.3% · 96
- Hispanic or Latino10.7% · 13
- Two or more races6.6% · 8
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bailo
Bailo appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#143,149
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
+6 bearers (+5.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,392 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+5 bearers (+4.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 1,840 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #139,757 | 110 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #143,149 | 116 | 0.04 | +6 bearers (+5.5%) | Down 3,392 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.3%) | Up 1,840 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bailo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #143,149 | #141,309 | 1.3% |
| Count | 116 | 121 | 4.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 1.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bailo bearers went from 116 to 121 (+4.3% change). The surname moved up 1,840 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,149 to #141,309.
FAQ
Bailo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bailo?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Bailo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Bailo?
Bailo ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Bailo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bailo.
Has Bailo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bailo went from 116 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 5 (+4.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #143,149 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Bailo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bailo, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (10.7%) and Two or More Races (6.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bailo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 79.3% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bailo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (79.3%), Hispanic (10.7%), Two or More Races (6.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bailo (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bailo mean?
A surname of Italian origin, possibly derived from the Italian word "ballo" meaning "dance." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bailo (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Bailo?
See how many people have the last name Bailo on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.