Calligaro last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Calligaro

A surname of Greek origin meaning 'beautiful stranger'.

Calligaro, 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 Calligaro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Calligaro in America

Calligaro is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Calligaro surname appeared 116 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 Calligaro.

The history of the last name Calligaro

The surname Calligaro has its origins in Italy, specifically in the northern regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Latin word "calligarius," which means "shoemaker" or "cobbler."

Historically, surnames often originated from occupations, and Calligaro likely referred to an ancestor who worked as a shoemaker or was involved in the leather trade. This occupation-based surname suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely craftsmen or artisans in the shoe-making industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Calligaro surname can be found in the 1397 Venetian census, where a certain Giovanni Calligaro was listed as a resident of the city. This record provides evidence that the name was already established in the Venetian area by the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the historic records of the city of Udine, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. A notable figure bearing this surname was Bartolomeo Calligaro, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Udine during the mid-1500s.

As the surname spread across northern Italy, variations in spelling emerged, such as Calligari, Calligaris, and Calligara. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and local pronunciation variations.

One of the most famous individuals bearing the Calligaro surname was Giacomo Calligaro (1844-1926), an Italian painter and sculptor known for his realistic portrayal of everyday life in Venice. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Italy and Europe.

Another notable figure was Antonio Calligaro (1867-1933), a renowned architect from Udine who designed several notable buildings in the city, including the Palazzo del Municipio and the Palazzo della Banca Nazionale.

In the late 19th century, a branch of the Calligaro family emigrated to Argentina, where they established themselves in the city of Buenos Aires. One of their descendants, Enrique Calligaro (1904-1987), became a prominent lawyer and politician, serving as a member of the Argentine Congress.

Throughout the centuries, the Calligaro surname has maintained a strong presence in northern Italy, particularly in the regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where it originated. While the name may have evolved in spelling and spread to different parts of the world, its roots can be traced back to the medieval era and the occupation of shoemaking.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Calligaro

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

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 Calligaro was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 95.69% 111
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

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

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

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"Calligaro last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 14, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/calligaro-surname-popularity/.

"Calligaro last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/calligaro-surname-popularity/. Accessed 14 June, 2025

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

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