2010
#154,907
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Canavati
An Italian surname derived from canavaccio, meaning hemp cloth or canvas.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Canavati. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Canavati surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Canavati in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Canavati, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 54.9%. The next largest groups are White (41.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Canavati
The surname CANAVATI originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Calabria and Sicily. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "canavari," which referred to hemp workers or those involved in the cultivation and processing of hemp fibers. This indicates that the earliest bearers of this name were likely engaged in the hemp industry or resided in areas known for hemp cultivation.
During the Middle Ages, the CANAVATI name appeared in various historical records, including tax rolls and property deeds in southern Italy. One notable early mention was in a document from 1296, which referred to a landowner named Giacomo CANAVATI in the town of Reggio Calabria.
As the name spread throughout Italy, regional variations in spelling emerged, such as CANAVATTI, CANAVAZZO, and CANAVATIA. These variations likely arose from local dialects and phonetic adaptations.
In the 16th century, a branch of the CANAVATI family settled in the town of Scilla, located in the province of Reggio Calabria. This branch produced several notable individuals, including Francesco CANAVATI (1542-1615), a renowned physician and scholar who authored several treatises on medicine and natural philosophy.
Another prominent figure was Giuseppe CANAVATI (1678-1752), a Sicilian architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Palermo and surrounding areas. His most famous work is the Church of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, which showcases his skillful blend of Baroque and Sicilian architectural styles.
During the 18th century, the CANAVATI name gained recognition in the world of arts and literature. Vincenzo CANAVATI (1725-1792) was a celebrated painter from Naples who specialized in religious and mythological scenes. His works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.
In the field of literature, Domenico CANAVATI (1787-1849) was a renowned Neapolitan poet and satirist. His collection of satirical poems, "Le Parodie Burlesche," gained widespread popularity and was influential in the development of the Neapolitan literary tradition.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the CANAVATI family expanded beyond Italy. One notable individual was Antonio CANAVATI (1861-1934), a successful businessman and philanthropist who emigrated to Argentina. He established several successful enterprises and was known for his charitable contributions to educational institutions in Buenos Aires.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Canavati
Among Census respondents with the surname Canavati, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 54.9%. The next largest groups are White (41.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Canavati bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Canavati surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino54.9% · 62
- White41.6% · 47
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.8% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
- Two or more races0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Canavati
Canavati appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
+8 bearers (+7.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 7,686 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #154,907 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | +8 bearers (+7.6%) | Up 7,686 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Canavati surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #154,907 | #147,221 | 5.0% |
| Count | 105 | 113 | 7.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -5.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Canavati bearers went from 105 to 113 (+7.6% change). The surname moved up 7,686 positions in the national ranking, going from #154,907 to #147,221.
FAQ
Canavati surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Canavati?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Canavati. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Canavati?
Canavati ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 113 people with the surname Canavati. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Canavati.
Has Canavati become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Canavati went from 105 recorded bearers to 113. That is an increase of 8 (+7.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #154,907 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Canavati?
Among Census respondents with the surname Canavati, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 54.9%. The next largest groups are White (41.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Canavati in the 2020 Census, accounting for 54.9% (62 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Canavati appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (54.9%), White (41.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Canavati (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Canavati mean?
An Italian surname derived from canavaccio, meaning hemp cloth or canvas. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Canavati (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Canavati?
You can see how many people have the surname Canavati on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.