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

Belcastro, 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 Belcastro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Belcastro in America

Belcastro is the 23315th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belcastro surname appeared 1,092 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 Belcastro.

We can also compare 2010 data for Belcastro 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 Belcastro

The surname Belcastro originated in Italy, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Italian words "bel" meaning "beautiful" and "castro" meaning "fortified village" or "castle." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who resided in or near a picturesque fortified town or castle.

The earliest known records of the Belcastro surname can be traced back to the 11th century in the southern Italian region of Calabria. Historical documents mention individuals with variations of the name, such as Belcastri and Belcastro, residing in towns like Belcastro and Catanzaro.

One notable figure was Giovanni Belcastro, a 13th-century nobleman and landowner from Belcastro, a town in the province of Catanzaro. He is mentioned in several local records and archives from that period.

In the 15th century, the Belcastro family gained prominence in the city of Naples, where they held influential positions in the local government and judiciary. Niccolò Belcastro, a renowned jurist and legal scholar, served as a magistrate in Naples during the mid-1400s.

The surname Belcastro also appeared in historical records from the island of Sicily. In the 16th century, a wealthy merchant named Antonio Belcastro is documented as having lived in the city of Palermo and engaged in trade with other Mediterranean ports.

Another notable individual was Girolamo Belcastro, a 17th-century artist and sculptor from Calabria. Some of his works can still be found in churches and museums in the region, showcasing his skill in the Baroque style.

During the 19th century, the Belcastro surname spread beyond Italy as individuals emigrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. For instance, Miguel Belcastro, a Spanish writer and journalist born in 1828, was known for his literary works and contributions to various publications in Madrid.

While the surname Belcastro is most prevalent in Italy, particularly in the regions of Calabria and Sicily, it can also be found in other parts of the world due to migration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Belcastro

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

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

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

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