Brancato
Derived from a nickname meaning "claw" or "talon," likely referring to a person with claw-like hands or a grasping nature.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,331 Americans carry the last name Brancato. That puts it at #14,761 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.68 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 147,042 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Brancato surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
2.3K
1 in 147,042
Census rank
#14,761
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.0K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,012 bearers of the surname Brancato in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14761st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Brancato, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.4%) and Two or More Races (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Brancato
The surname Brancato is of Italian origin, deriving from the medieval Italian word "branca" meaning "branch" or "paw." It is believed to have originated as a nickname for someone with a prominent nose or someone who lived near a bushy area.
Brancato is most commonly found in southern Italy, particularly in the regions of Sicily, Calabria, and Campania. The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as Brancati, Brancato, and Brancata.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Riccardo Brancato, a Sicilian nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in several medieval documents related to land disputes and property transactions.
In the 14th century, the Brancato family gained prominence in the city of Palermo, Sicily. Records from this time period mention several members of the family holding influential positions within the local government and Church.
During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the surname Brancato was Giovanni Battista Brancato (1492-1565), a Sicilian painter and architect. He is best known for his work on the Church of San Domenico in Palermo.
Another individual of note was Vincenzo Brancato (1630-1709), a Sicilian poet and playwright. He wrote several works in the Sicilian language, including the comedy "Li Travagghi di Cicciu" (The Troubles of Cicciu).
In the 19th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Giuseppe Brancato (1810-1878), an Italian politician and jurist. He served as a member of the Sicilian Parliament and was instrumental in the unification of Italy.
Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Brancato name in the United States was Domenico Brancato, who immigrated from Sicily to New York in the late 19th century. He worked as a laborer and established a family in the city.
Overall, the surname Brancato has a rich history rooted in southern Italy, with various members of the family making significant contributions in fields such as art, literature, law, and politics over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Brancato
Among Census respondents with the surname Brancato, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.4%) and Two or More Races (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Brancato bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Brancato surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.4%
- Two or more races0.8%
- Unknown or suppressed0.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Brancato surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,268 | #14,761 | -3.5% |
| Count | 1,927 | 2,012 | 4.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.71 | 0.68 | -4.2% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Brancato bearers went from 1,927 to 2,012 (+4.4% change). The surname moved down 493 positions in the national ranking, going from #14,268 to #14,761.
FAQ
Brancato surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Brancato?
The surname Brancato holds position #14,761 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,331 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Brancato surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Brancato, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.4%) and Two or More Races (0.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.