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

Bellavia, 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 Bellavia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bellavia in America

Bellavia is the 29918th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bellavia surname appeared 785 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 Bellavia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bellavia 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 Bellavia

The surname Bellavia has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name is derived from the Italian words "bella" and "via," which translate to "beautiful" and "road" or "way," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bellavia can be found in a document from the 13th century, where it was mentioned as "Bellavista," a similar spelling to the modern form. It is believed that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived near or owned property along a particularly scenic or beautiful road or pathway.

During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the name Bellavia. One example is Pietro Bellavia, a Sicilian architect and engineer who lived from 1435 to 1492. He is known for his contributions to the construction of various churches and fortifications in Sicily.

Another historical figure with this surname was Francesco Bellavia, a 16th-century Italian painter who was active in Naples. His works can still be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

In the 17th century, a prominent Bellavia family resided in the town of Mistretta, Sicily. One member of this family, Giovanni Bellavia, was a physician and philosopher who lived from 1628 to 1688. He wrote several treatises on medical and philosophical topics.

Moving forward to the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Vincenzo Bellavia, a Sicilian composer and musician who lived from 1726 to 1796. He composed numerous works for the church and was highly regarded in his time.

Lastly, in the 19th century, there was Giuseppe Bellavia, an Italian painter and sculptor who was born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1827 and died in 1902. He gained recognition for his religious paintings and sculptures, many of which can be found in churches throughout Sicily.

While the surname Bellavia has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to immigration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the beautiful roads and pathways of medieval Sicily and Calabria, where the name first emerged.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bellavia

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

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

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

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