Buffone last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Buffone

An Italian surname likely derived from a satirical or jesting profession.

Buffone, 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 Buffone surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Buffone in America

Buffone is the 32236th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Buffone surname appeared 715 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 Buffone.

We can also compare 2010 data for Buffone 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 32236 30868 4.34%
Count 715 712 0.42%
Proportion per 100k 0.24 0.26 -8.00%

The history of the last name Buffone

The surname Buffone originated in Italy during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "buffone," which means "jester" or "buffoon." This name likely referred to an entertainer or court jester who performed comedic skits and satirical plays.

The earliest recorded instances of the Buffone surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of northern and central Italy, such as Tuscany, Umbria, and Emilia-Romagna. It is believed that the name may have originated in one of these areas, where jesters and performers were popular entertainers in noble courts and public gatherings.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Buffone was mentioned in historical records as a renowned court jester in the service of the Visconti family, the rulers of Milan. His witty performances and clever wordplay were said to have delighted the nobles and guests of the Visconti court.

Another prominent individual with the Buffone surname was Bartolomeo Buffone, born in 1485 in Florence. He was a celebrated actor and playwright, known for his satirical comedies that poked fun at the aristocracy and societal norms of the time. His works were popular among the Florentine elite and helped shape the development of Italian commedia dell'arte.

During the Renaissance period, the Buffone family produced several notable artists and writers. One such individual was Lucrezia Buffone, a 16th-century poet from Ferrara. Her collection of sonnets and love poems garnered critical acclaim and was widely circulated among literary circles in Italy.

In the 17th century, the Buffone name appeared in the records of the Papal States, particularly in the city of Rome. Antonio Buffone, born in 1620, was a renowned architect and sculptor who contributed to the design and decoration of several churches and palaces in Rome, including the Basilica of St. Peter.

Throughout history, the Buffone surname has been associated with the art of entertainment, humor, and satire. While the name may have originated from a humble profession, it has also been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to the cultural and artistic realms of Italian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Buffone

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

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 Buffone was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.83% 678
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.70% 5
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.82% 13
Hispanic Origin 2.52% 18

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.83% 96.35% -1.59%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.70% 1.26% -57.14%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.82% 0.70% 88.89%
Hispanic 2.52% 1.40% 57.14%

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Buffone, 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!

"Buffone last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 1, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/buffone-surname-popularity/.

"Buffone last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/buffone-surname-popularity/. Accessed 1 June, 2025

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

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