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

Caiafa, 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 Caiafa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caiafa in America

Caiafa is the 82908th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caiafa surname appeared 227 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 Caiafa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Caiafa 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 Caiafa

The surname CAIAFA is of Italian origin, with its roots tracing back to the region of Campania in southern Italy. This name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CAIAFA surname can be found in historical documents from the city of Naples, where it was often spelled as "Caiafa" or "Caiaffa." It is thought to be derived from the Latin word "calyx," meaning "bud" or "husk," possibly referring to an occupation or location associated with agriculture or horticulture.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Goffredo Caiafa was mentioned in the chronicles of Naples as a prominent nobleman and landowner. His family was influential in the region during that time period.

The CAIAFA surname also appears in some Italian Renaissance records, such as the writings of the famous poet and humanist Giovanni Pontano, who lived from 1429 to 1503. He mentions a certain Marino Caiafa, a scholar and patron of the arts, in his works.

During the 16th century, a branch of the CAIAFA family settled in the nearby town of Aversa, where they became involved in the local governance and held positions of authority. One notable member was Girolamo Caiafa, born in 1520, who served as the mayor of Aversa for several years.

Another significant figure in the CAIAFA lineage was Vincenzo Caiafa, born in 1587 in Naples. He was a renowned philosopher and theologian, known for his contributions to the study of ethics and moral philosophy. His works were widely read and discussed in academic circles of the time.

In the 18th century, the CAIAFA surname gained prominence in the arts, with several musicians and composers bearing this name. One such individual was Antonio Caiafa, born in 1721 in Naples, who was a celebrated composer of operas and sacred music.

Overall, the surname CAIAFA has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural and intellectual traditions of southern Italy, particularly in the regions surrounding Naples and Campania. While its exact origins may be obscure, the name has been associated with notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caiafa

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

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

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

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