Carvana last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Carvana

A surname possibly derived from Spanish meaning "carvings" or "engravings".

Carvana, 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 Carvana surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Carvana in America

Carvana is the 116123rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Carvana surname appeared 139 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Carvana.

The history of the last name Carvana

The surname Carvana traces its origins to Italy, particularly from the southern regions of the country. Carvana likely derives from the Italian word "carvane," which can be related to a caravan or a convoy of travelers, symbolizing a group of people who travel together, typically for trade or protection. It suggests a historical occupation tied to commerce or long-distance travel, typical of the regions in Italy famous for their trading activity.

The name Carvana surfaces in historical records from the late Medieval period, around the 13th and 14th centuries. In ancient ossuaries and manuscripts found near Sicily and Calabria, references to families with the surname Carvana point to the existence of this name well before the Renaissance period. Variations in spelling such as "Carvano," "Carvanelli," and "Carvani" appear in different medieval texts, showing the surname's evolution over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Carvana can be found in a 1320 census document from Calabria, listing a Bartolomeo Carvana as a merchant, indicating that individuals with this surname were likely involved in trade. Another noteworthy person is Lorenzo Carvana, who was documented in a 1456 land registry in Sicily as a landowner and trader. These early records indicate an occupation-based origin for the surname, tied to commerce and land ownership.

In the 16th century, a person named Giovanni Carvana appeared in numerous legal documents in Naples, known for his involvement in local governance and trade regulations. Giovanni Carvana was an influential figure during his time, born in 1510 and passing in 1578, whose work laid the groundwork for trade agreements between regional merchants.

In the 18th century, the name Carvana migrated beyond Italy, with records of a Vincenzo Carvana found in maritime documents in Spain, where he worked as a ship captain engaged in Mediterranean trade routes. His birth in Palermo in 1695 and death at sea in 1732 highlight the surname’s connection to long-distance travel and maritime activities.

Finally, in the early 19th century, Maria Teresa Carvana, born in 1798 and died in 1867, a notable poet and writer from Naples, captured the cultural shift within the Carvana lineage, moving from trade to intellectual and artistic contributions. Her works remain a testament to the varied history and accomplishments of those bearing the Carvana name.

The progression from medieval commerce to artistic endeavors in later centuries demonstrates the surname's enduring connection to pioneering and cultural enrichment. The name Carvana remains a testament to the rich history of Italian commerce, travel, and intellectual pursuit.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Carvana

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Carvana was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 76.26% 106
Non-Hispanic Black Only 6.47% 9
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 7.19% 10
Hispanic Origin 9.35% 13

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

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

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"Carvana last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 30, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/carvana-surname-popularity/.

"Carvana last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/carvana-surname-popularity/. Accessed 30 April, 2025

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

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