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

Bono, 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 Bono surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bono in America

Bono is the 6441st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bono surname appeared 5,272 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Bono.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bono 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 Bono

The surname Bono originated in Italy, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Latin word "bonus," meaning "good" or "virtuous." The name is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was considered to be of good character or moral standing.

In its earliest forms, the name was spelled variations such as Boni, Bono, Buono, and Buoni. These spellings were often used interchangeably, as consistent spelling standards were not yet established. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Bono can be found in the historic city of Siena, where a wealthy merchant family bearing the name is mentioned in records from the 13th century. This family played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs during the Medieval period.

Another notable early bearer of the name was Girolamo Bono, a renowned cartographer and map maker who lived in the late 16th century. Born in Venice in 1552, Bono produced detailed maps of the Mediterranean region, including the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, which were highly regarded for their accuracy and precision.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Bono family settled in the Kingdom of Naples, where they acquired lands and titles. One prominent member was Francesco Bono, who served as a magistrate and judge in the city of Naples during the reign of King Charles II of Spain.

During the Italian Renaissance, the Bono surname was associated with several artists and intellectuals. Bartolomeo Bono, born in Florence in 1495, was a celebrated painter and fresco artist whose works adorned churches and palaces throughout Tuscany.

In more recent history, the name Bono has gained global recognition due to Paul David Hewson, the lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, who is widely known by his stage name, Bono. While not his legal surname, the moniker Bono has become inextricably linked with his persona and advocacy efforts, particularly in the areas of human rights and global poverty.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bono

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

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

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

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