2000
#137,816
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Bielli
A locational surname derived from a place name in Italy.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 124 Americans carry the last name Bielli. That puts it at #150,935 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,764,148 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bielli surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
124
1 in 2,764,148
Census rank
#150,935
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
108
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 108 bearers of the surname Bielli in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 150935th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bielli, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.3%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bielli
The surname BIELLI is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of Italy, particularly in the areas around the cities of Milan and Turin. The name is thought to be derived from the Italian word "biello," which means "spinning tool" or "spindle," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals involved in the textile industry or related trades.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the BIELLI name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Langobardiae, a collection of historical documents dating back to the 8th century. In this codex, there is a mention of a certain "Biellus de Mediolano" (Biellus of Milan), indicating the presence of the name in the region during that period.
During the Renaissance, the BIELLI name gained prominence with the birth of Girolamo Bielli (1525-1590), a renowned painter and architect from Milan. His works can still be admired in various churches and palaces throughout northern Italy, and his legacy has been documented in several historical records and art publications.
Another notable individual bearing the BIELLI name was Giovanni Battista Bielli (1670-1745), a prominent merchant and banker from Turin. His business dealings and financial acumen were well-documented in the city's archives, and he is recognized as one of the wealthiest and most influential figures of his time.
In the 19th century, the BIELLI name was associated with the Italian unification movement, with Luigi Bielli (1810-1875) being a prominent figure in the Risorgimento. He was a patriot, writer, and politician who actively campaigned for the unification of Italy and played a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape.
The name BIELLI can also be linked to several place names in Italy, such as the town of Biella in the Piedmont region, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time. Additionally, variations of the name, such as Bieli, Bielle, and Biello, have been recorded in various historical documents and records.
Throughout history, the BIELLI surname has been carried by numerous individuals, including artists, merchants, politicians, and professionals from various fields, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Italy and beyond.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bielli
Among Census respondents with the surname Bielli, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.3%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Bielli bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bielli surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.0% · 95
- Hispanic or Latino9.3% · 10
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.9% · 2
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Bielli
Bielli appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
-6 bearers (-5.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,953 places
2020
#150,935
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
+2 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 2,834 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #137,816 | 112 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | -6 bearers (-5.4%) | Down 15,953 places |
| 2020 | #150,935 | 108 | 0.04 | +2 bearers (+1.9%) | Up 2,834 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Bielli surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #150,935 | 1.8% |
| Count | 106 | 108 | 1.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -9.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Bielli bearers went from 106 to 108 (+1.9% change). The surname moved up 2,834 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #150,935.
FAQ
Bielli surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Bielli?
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the surname Bielli. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,764,148 residents.
How common is Bielli?
Bielli ranks #150,935 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 108 people with the surname Bielli. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (124), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Bielli.
Has Bielli become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Bielli went from 106 recorded bearers to 108. That is an increase of 2 (+1.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #150,935.
What does the Census say about the background of Bielli?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bielli, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.3%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Bielli in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.0% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Bielli appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.0%), Hispanic (9.3%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Bielli (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Bielli mean?
A locational surname derived from a place name in Italy. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Bielli (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Bielli?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Bielli on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.