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

Belica, 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 Belica surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Belica in America

Belica is the 112568th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Belica surname appeared 156 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 Belica.

We can also compare 2010 data for Belica 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 Belica

The surname Belica is of Slavic origin, believed to have originated in the region of modern-day Croatia and neighboring areas of the Balkans. Its earliest roots trace back to the 12th century or earlier, derived from the Slavic word "belica," meaning "a white cloth" or "a banner."

In the medieval period, the name was often associated with those who worked as weavers, tailors, or flag-makers, with the surname bestowed upon individuals or families involved in these crafts. Variations of the spelling, such as Belitza and Belicha, can be found in historical records from that era.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the name Belica is found in a 14th-century manuscript from the Dubrovnik archives, referring to a merchant named Ivan Belica who traded in textiles and fabrics. This suggests the name's connection to the textile industry dates back several centuries.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing this surname was Petar Belica (1495-1562), a Croatian scholar and humanist who studied in Italy and later became a prominent professor and rector at the University of Zagreb.

In the 17th century, the Belica family established itself as landowners in the region of Slavonia, with records indicating their ownership of several estates and vineyards. One member of this branch, Matija Belica (1620-1689), was a respected wine merchant and influential figure in local governance.

Another prominent individual was Marija Belica (1785-1855), a Croatian writer and educator who authored several works on history and literature, and contributed to the preservation of traditional folklore and customs.

As the surname spread throughout the Balkans and Central Europe, it also gained recognition in other fields, such as military and politics. Josip Belica (1870-1942) was a Croatian military officer who served in World War I and later became involved in diplomatic affairs.

While the surname Belica is most commonly found in Croatia and neighboring countries, it has also been carried by individuals of Slavic descent in various parts of the world, reflecting the diaspora of the region's populations over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Belica

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

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

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

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