2000
#138,741
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 111
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Carnazza
An Italian surname possibly derived from a place name or a nickname relating to a carnation flower or complexion color.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 114 Americans carry the last name Carnazza. That puts it at #156,005 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,006,617 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Carnazza 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
114
1 in 3,006,617
Census rank
#156,005
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
99
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 99 bearers of the surname Carnazza in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156005th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Carnazza, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Carnazza
The surname CARNAZZA originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Sicily. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Arabic words "qarn" meaning "horn" and "azza" which translates to "strong" or "powerful." This suggests that the name may have been associated with strength, power, or even a physical characteristic resembling a horn.
One of the earliest known records of the CARNAZZA name can be found in a Sicilian manuscript from the 13th century, where it was spelled as "Carnazza." This spelling remained consistent throughout the centuries, with minor variations occurring in different regions of Sicily.
The CARNAZZA surname was particularly prominent in the towns of Palermo and Monreale, where several families bearing this name were documented in historical records. One notable individual was Pietro CARNAZZA, a renowned sculptor and architect from Palermo who lived in the late 15th century. He was responsible for designing and constructing several churches and public buildings in the city.
Another significant figure was Vincenzo CARNAZZA, born in Monreale in 1638. He was a celebrated philosopher and theologian who authored several influential works on metaphysics and natural philosophy. His writings were widely studied and discussed in academic circles across Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.
In the 19th century, the CARNAZZA name gained further prominence with the birth of Gabriele CARNAZZA (1825-1900), a prominent Sicilian politician and statesman. He served as a member of the Italian parliament and was actively involved in the unification movement that led to the formation of the Kingdom of Italy.
The CARNAZZA surname was also associated with several noble families in Sicily, such as the Barons of CARNAZZA, who held significant land and influence in the region during the Middle Ages. Their ancestral home, the Castle of CARNAZZA, still stands in the town of Monreale as a testament to their historical importance.
Another noteworthy individual was Antonio CARNAZZA (1901-1980), a renowned Sicilian painter and sculptor. His works were widely exhibited across Italy and garnered critical acclaim for their unique style and artistic expression.
While the CARNAZZA surname has its roots firmly planted in Sicily, over time it has spread to other parts of Italy and even beyond, carried by families who migrated in search of new opportunities. However, its historical significance and connection to the Sicilian heritage remain deeply ingrained in its origins and legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Carnazza
Among Census respondents with the surname Carnazza, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Carnazza 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 Carnazza surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.9% · 94
- Hispanic or Latino3.0% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
- Two or more races1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Carnazza
Carnazza appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#159,712
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
-10 bearers (-9.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 20,971 places
2020
#156,005
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 99
-2 bearers (-2.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Up 3,707 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #138,741 | 111 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #159,712 | 101 | 0.03 | -10 bearers (-9.0%) | Down 20,971 places |
| 2020 | #156,005 | 99 | 0.03 | -2 bearers (-2.0%) | Up 3,707 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 Carnazza 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 | #159,712 | #156,005 | 2.3% |
| Count | 101 | 99 | -2.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.03 | 10.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Carnazza bearers went from 101 to 99 (-2.0% change). The surname moved up 3,707 positions in the national ranking, going from #159,712 to #156,005.
FAQ
Carnazza surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Carnazza?
Name Census estimates that about 114 living Americans carry the surname Carnazza. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,006,617 residents.
How common is Carnazza?
Carnazza ranks #156,005 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 99 people with the surname Carnazza. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (114), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Carnazza.
Has Carnazza become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Carnazza went from 101 recorded bearers to 99. That is a decrease of 2 (-2.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #159,712 to #156,005.
What does the Census say about the background of Carnazza?
Among Census respondents with the surname Carnazza, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.0%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%). 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?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Carnazza in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.9% (94 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Carnazza appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (94.9%), Hispanic (3.0%), American Indian/Alaska Native (1.0%). 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 Carnazza (2000, 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 Carnazza mean?
An Italian surname possibly derived from a place name or a nickname relating to a carnation flower or complexion color. 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 Carnazza (0.03 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 have the surname Carnazza?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.