Balagna last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Balagna

An Italian surname possibly derived from an Italian place name or personal name.

Balagna, 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 Balagna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Balagna in America

Balagna is the 85659th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Balagna surname appeared 218 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 Balagna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Balagna 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 85659 89895 -4.83%
Count 218 191 13.20%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.07 0.00%

The history of the last name Balagna

The surname Balagna is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Liguria. It is thought to be derived from the Italian word "balagna," which means "a small bay" or "a cove." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a small bay or cove along the Ligurian coast.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Balagna can be traced back to the 12th century in various historical documents from the Ligurian region. One notable example is a mention of a person named Guglielmo Balagna in a legal document from the city of Genoa, dated 1187.

In the 13th century, the name appears in several records related to the maritime activities of the Republic of Genoa, which dominated the Mediterranean trade during that time. This suggests that some individuals bearing the surname Balagna may have been involved in seafaring or maritime professions.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Balagna was a Genoese merchant named Simone Balagna, who lived in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in several trade documents from that period, indicating his involvement in the lucrative trade routes between Genoa and other Mediterranean ports.

Another notable figure with the surname Balagna was Giacomo Balagna, a 15th-century Genoese navigator and explorer. He is believed to have participated in various expeditions along the North African coast and is mentioned in contemporary chronicles from that era.

In the 16th century, the name Balagna can be found in records related to the construction of the famous Palazzo Balagna in Genoa. This grand palace was commissioned by a wealthy merchant family bearing the Balagna surname and stands as a testament to their influence and prosperity during the Renaissance period.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Balagna has been associated with various prominent individuals, including artists, scholars, and politicians. One such example is Girolamo Balagna, a 17th-century Genoese painter known for his religious works and portraits.

While the surname Balagna originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, its roots can be traced back to the coastal regions of Liguria, where it likely originated as a descriptive name for those residing near small bays or coves.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Balagna

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

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 Balagna was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.50% 206
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.21% 7
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Balagna has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.50% 96.34% -1.93%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 3.21% (S)% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Balagna last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/balagna-surname-popularity/.

"Balagna last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/balagna-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 August, 2025

Balagna last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/balagna-surname-popularity/.

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