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

Bosco, 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 Bosco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bosco in America

Bosco is the 7399th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bosco surname appeared 4,498 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 Bosco.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bosco 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 Bosco

The surname Bosco is of Italian origin, deriving from the Italian word "bosco" meaning "wood" or "forest." Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

In the early days, the surname Bosco was likely used to identify individuals who lived near or worked in woodlands or forests. It may have been an occupational surname for those involved in forestry, woodcutting, or related trades.

The name Bosco is found in historical records from various regions of Italy, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. One notable early mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval documents from the Campania region, which includes references to individuals bearing the surname Bosco in the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Bosco was Giovanni Bosco (1815-1888), an Italian Catholic priest and educator who founded the Salesian Society and dedicated his life to educating and assisting underprivileged youth. He is widely venerated as Saint John Bosco.

Another prominent figure was Umberto Bosco (1885-1958), an Italian literary critic and scholar, known for his work on Italian literature and his contributions to the study of Dante's works.

In the realm of art, the name Bosco is associated with the renowned Italian painter, draftsman, and printmaker Giuseppe Maria Crespi (1665-1747), who was also known as "Lo Spagnuolo" or "Il Bosco" due to his fondness for depicting woodland scenes.

One cannot overlook the significance of the Bosco family in the history of Italian wine. The Bosco family from Piedmont has been producing exceptional wines since the late 18th century, with their vineyards and winery playing a crucial role in the development of the Barolo wine region.

Another notable figure was Pietro Bosco (1834-1923), an Italian architect and engineer who was instrumental in the construction of several important landmarks in Turin, including the Mole Antonelliana, one of the city's most iconic buildings.

While the surname Bosco originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to Italian migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the Italian peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bosco

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

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

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

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