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

Caperna, 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 Caperna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Caperna in America

Caperna is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Caperna surname appeared 108 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 Caperna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Caperna 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 Caperna

The surname Caperna is of Italian origin, with its roots stretching back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Campania, particularly in and around the city of Naples. The name is thought to derive from the Latin word "capra," meaning "goat," suggesting a possible connection to the goat-herding or dairy industry in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caperna can be found in a 13th-century manuscript from the Archivio di Stato di Napoli, where a certain Giovanni Caperna is mentioned as a landowner in the vicinity of Caserta. This document provides valuable insight into the geographical distribution and socioeconomic status of the family during that era.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the records of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, where a scholar named Pietro Caperna was listed as a professor of philosophy. This reference highlights the family's involvement in the intellectual and academic spheres of the time.

During the Renaissance period, the Caperna family gained prominence in the city of Naples. Notably, Girolamo Caperna (1501-1572) was a renowned painter and architect who contributed to the design and embellishment of several churches and palaces in the city.

Another notable figure was Giulio Caperna (1586-1648), a Neapolitan jurist and legal scholar who authored several influential treatises on civil law. His works were widely cited and studied throughout the Italian peninsula during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Caperna family had established branches in other regions of Italy, including Tuscany and Piedmont. One notable member was Antonio Caperna (1725-1798), a botanist and naturalist from Turin, who made significant contributions to the study of alpine flora.

The name Caperna can also be traced to various place names in Italy, such as the small town of Caperna in the province of Perugia, Umbria. This town's name is believed to be derived from the same Latin root as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the family and the goat-herding or dairy industry in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname Caperna has been associated with individuals from diverse fields, including art, law, academia, and science, reflecting the family's versatility and intellectual pursuits across generations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Caperna

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

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

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

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