Buffalino last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Buffalino

A surname derived from the Italian word "buffalino," meaning a young buffalo or calf.

Buffalino, 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 Buffalino surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buffalino in America

Buffalino is the 102688th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buffalino surname appeared 175 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 Buffalino.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buffalino 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 102688 89549 13.67%
Count 175 192 -9.26%
Proportion per 100k 0.06 0.07 -15.38%

The history of the last name Buffalino

The surname Buffalino originated in Italy, specifically in the southern region of Sicily. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Italian word "bufalo," which means "buffalo," suggesting a possible connection to the region's historical involvement in buffalo herding or hunting.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Buffalino surname can be found in a document from the 14th century, where it appears as "Buffalinu" in reference to a landowner from the town of Palermo, Sicily. This indicates that the name was already established and associated with the area at that time.

In the 15th century, a notable individual named Vincenzo Buffalino (1430-1492) was a renowned architect who contributed to the construction of several churches and palaces in Palermo. His works, including the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Catena and the Palazzo Abatellis, showcased the Sicilian Renaissance style and solidified his place in the annals of Italian architecture.

During the 16th century, the Buffalino family gained prominence in the town of Corleone, located in the heart of Sicily. Records from this period mention a certain Pietro Buffalino (1520-1585), who served as a local magistrate and played a significant role in the administration of the town.

In the 17th century, the Buffalino surname appeared in the historical records of Naples, where a member of the family, Giacomo Buffalino (1610-1675), held a prestigious position as a royal court painter. His works, primarily depicting religious scenes and portraits, adorned many churches and noble residences in the city.

Another notable figure with the Buffalino surname was Giuseppe Buffalino (1755-1832), a prominent lawyer and jurist from Palermo. He was renowned for his expertise in civil law and served as a magistrate in the Supreme Court of Sicily during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Throughout its history, the Buffalino surname has maintained a strong presence in Sicily, particularly in the cities of Palermo, Corleone, and their surrounding areas. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings associated with buffalo herding or hunting, it has since been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including architecture, art, law, and local governance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buffalino

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

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 Buffalino was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 96.00% 168
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 0.00% 0
Hispanic Origin 3.43% 6

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 Buffalino has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 96.00% 98.44% -2.51%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Hispanic 3.43% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Buffalino last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/buffalino-surname-popularity/.

"Buffalino last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/buffalino-surname-popularity/. Accessed 9 July, 2025

Buffalino last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/buffalino-surname-popularity/.

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