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

Battaglia, 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 Battaglia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Battaglia in America

Battaglia is the 4279th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Battaglia surname appeared 8,308 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Battaglia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Battaglia 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 Battaglia

The surname Battaglia originates from Italy, where it first appeared in the late medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "battaglia," meaning "battle" or "combat," suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who fought in battles or was a soldier.

Battaglia is a relatively common name in Italy, particularly in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical records from these areas, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Battaglia surname was Niccolò Battaglia, a Sicilian nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 14th century. He gained prominence for his role in the Wars of the Sicilian Vespers, a conflict between the Aragonese and the Angevins over the control of Sicily.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various documents related to the Italian Wars, a series of conflicts that involved many Italian city-states and foreign powers. For example, there are records of a Captain Battaglia from Naples who fought for the Spanish forces during the Italian War of 1535-1538.

Another notable figure with the Battaglia surname was Giovanni Battista Battaglia, an Italian painter and sculptor who lived in the 17th century (1630-1705). He was born in Palermo, Sicily, and is known for his works in churches and palaces across Italy, including the Church of San Cataldo in Palermo.

In the 18th century, the name Battaglia can be found in records related to the Napoleonic Wars. One such individual was Antonio Battaglia (1771-1825), an Italian general who served in the Neapolitan army and fought against the French forces during the Napoleonic occupation of Naples.

Throughout history, the Battaglia surname has also been associated with various places and geographical features. For example, there is a town called Battaglia Terme in the province of Padua, Veneto, which likely takes its name from the Italian word "battaglia" due to a significant battle that occurred there in the past.

While the Battaglia surname is primarily of Italian origin, it has also been adopted by families in other countries, particularly those with Italian heritage or connections to Italy. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to the name can be traced back to its roots in Italy, where it has been present for centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Battaglia

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

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

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

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