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

Cara, 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 Cara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cara in America

Cara is the 33036th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cara surname appeared 693 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 Cara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cara 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 Cara

The surname CARA is of Italian origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "carus," meaning "dear" or "beloved." This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was highly valued or cherished within their community.

The earliest recorded instances of the CARA surname can be traced back to the regions of Tuscany and Umbria in central Italy during the 13th and 14th centuries. Historical records from this time period, including municipal archives and church registers, contain references to individuals bearing variations of the name, such as Cara, Caro, and Carri.

One of the earliest known bearers of the CARA name was Giovanni Cara, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Perugia, Umbria, in the late 13th century. Records from the Perugia municipal archives mention his involvement in various trade agreements and land transactions.

In the 15th century, the CARA surname gained prominence in the region of Tuscany, particularly in the city of Florence. Sebastiano Cara, a skilled sculptor and architect, was commissioned to work on several notable projects, including the design of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore's façade in 1588.

During the Renaissance period, the CARA name was also associated with the arts and literature. Tommaso Cara, a poet and playwright born in Siena in 1472, gained recognition for his works celebrating the beauty of the Tuscan landscape and the virtues of courtly love.

As the CARA surname spread across Italy, it became intertwined with various place names. For instance, in the region of Campania, the town of Caramanico Terme derived its name from the Latin phrase "Cara Manica," which translates to "dear dwelling."

Notable individuals with the CARA surname include:

1. Gaetano Cara (1801-1885), an Italian botanist and naturalist known for his contributions to the study of Mediterranean flora.
2. Maria Cara (1888-1968), an Italian opera singer who performed at renowned venues such as La Scala in Milan.
3. Antonio Cara (1927-2003), an Italian film director and screenwriter, best known for his neorealist films depicting the struggles of working-class Italians.
4. Giancarlo Cara (born 1942), an Italian businessman and entrepreneur, the founder of the successful fashion brand Cara Moda.
5. Alessandra Cara (born 1996), a Canadian singer-songwriter of Italian descent, known for her hit singles "Here" and "Scars to Your Beautiful."

While the CARA surname has endured for centuries, its origins can be traced back to the heartlands of medieval Italy, where it was borne by individuals who were cherished and valued within their communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cara

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

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

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

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