Buscemi
An Italian surname for someone from the town of Buscemi in Sicily.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,228 Americans carry the last name Buscemi. That puts it at #15,380 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.65 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 153,839 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Buscemi 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
2.2K
1 in 153,839
Census rank
#15,380
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,907 bearers of the surname Buscemi in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.65 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15380th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Buscemi, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Buscemi
The surname Buscemi originates from the Italian island of Sicily, particularly from the town of Buscemi located in the province of Syracuse. The name is believed to derive from the Latin word "buxus," meaning "box tree," suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or worked with box trees.
The earliest recorded mention of the Buscemi surname can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various documents and records from the region. One notable reference is found in the Sicilian Monastic Archives, where a certain Guglielmo Buscemi is mentioned as a landowner in the year 1187.
During the medieval period, the Buscemi family gained prominence in Sicily, and their name can be found in various historical documents and records from that time. For instance, in the 14th century, a nobleman named Matteo Buscemi is recorded as having participated in the Wars of the Vespers against the Angevin rule in Sicily.
In the 16th century, the Buscemi family established themselves in the town of Buscemi, which likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname. One notable figure from this era was Vincenzo Buscemi (1549-1619), a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on Sicilian history and culture.
Another prominent individual bearing the Buscemi surname was Giovanni Battista Buscemi (1673-1744), a Sicilian architect and engineer who was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings and structures in Palermo and other parts of Sicily.
In the 19th century, the Buscemi surname gained international recognition with the birth of Salvatore Buscemi (1826-1898), an Italian opera singer and composer who achieved great success in various European opera houses, particularly in Paris and Milan.
Over the centuries, the Buscemi surname has spread beyond Sicily to other parts of Italy and the world, with notable bearers of the name emerging in various fields, including the arts, sciences, and politics. For example, Steve Buscemi (born 1957) is an acclaimed American actor, director, and former firefighter known for his roles in films such as "Reservoir Dogs" and "Fargo."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Buscemi
Among Census respondents with the surname Buscemi, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Buscemi 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 Buscemi surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.1%
- Hispanic or Latino3.3%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Buscemi 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,380 | #15,380 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,907 | 1,907 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Buscemi bearers went from 1,907 to 1,907 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #15,380 to #15,380.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Buscemi
FAQ
Buscemi surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Buscemi?
The surname Buscemi holds position #15,380 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,228 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.65 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Buscemi surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Buscemi, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.3%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). 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.