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

Bonano, 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 Bonano surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bonano in America

Bonano is the 32834th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bonano surname appeared 699 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 Bonano.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bonano 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 Bonano

The surname Bonano has its origins in Italy, specifically in the regions of Sicily and Calabria. It is believed to have derived from the Latin name "Bonanus," which means "good" or "virtuous." The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in various historical documents and records from these regions.

One of the earliest known references to the Bonano name can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the town of Messina, Sicily, where a nobleman named Guglielmo Bonano was mentioned as a landowner. Additionally, records from the 14th century indicate that a family with the surname Bonano held significant influence in the city of Reggio Calabria.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Antonio Bonano (1427-1498) gained recognition as a renowned jurist and legal scholar in Naples. His contributions to the development of Italian law during the Renaissance period were highly regarded.

During the 16th century, a branch of the Bonano family settled in the town of Bovalino, Calabria, where they played a prominent role in the local community. One member, Girolamo Bonano (1547-1621), served as the mayor of Bovalino and was instrumental in the town's economic and cultural growth.

Another notable individual with the Bonano surname was Vincenzo Bonano (1678-1744), a Sicilian painter and architect who was active in the Baroque period. His works can be found in various churches and buildings throughout Sicily, including the Cathedral of Palermo.

As the Bonano family spread across Italy and beyond, the surname underwent slight variations in spelling, such as Bonanno, Bonanni, and Bonnano. However, the core meaning and origin remained rooted in the Italian regions of Sicily and Calabria, where the name first emerged and gained prominence.

While the Bonano surname may not be as widely recognized as some other Italian surnames, its historical significance lies in its connection to the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of Southern Italy, particularly in the fields of law, arts, and local governance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bonano

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

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

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

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