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

Castello, 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 Castello surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Castello in America

Castello is the 9692nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Castello surname appeared 3,347 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Castello.

We can also compare 2010 data for Castello 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 Castello

The surname Castello is of Italian origin, deriving from the Latin word "castellum," meaning a castle or fortified town. It is thought to have originated in the early Middle Ages, likely between the 9th and 11th centuries, when many families took on surnames based on their occupations, places of residence, or other distinguishing features.

The earliest recorded instances of the Castello surname can be found in various Italian regions, such as Tuscany, Lombardy, and Sicily. It was often associated with families who lived in or near castles or fortified settlements, or those who held positions related to the defense or administration of such structures.

One notable historical reference to the Castello name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of documents from the Benedictine monastery of Cava dei Tirreni in southern Italy, dating back to the 9th century. This manuscript includes mentions of individuals with the surname Castello, suggesting that the name was already in use during that time period.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Galeazzo Castello (c. 1220-1275) was a nobleman and military leader from the city of Milan. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, supporting the Ghibelline faction.

Another notable individual was Niccolò Castello (c. 1425-1500), a Venetian navigator and explorer who is credited with discovering the islands of Cape Verde in 1456. He is also believed to have been the first European to reach the Rio de Oro region of present-day Western Sahara.

During the Renaissance, the Castello family of Genoa produced several influential members, including Battista Castello (1505-1576), a renowned architect and engineer who worked on various fortifications and military structures throughout Italy.

In the 16th century, Giovanni Battista Castello (1509-1569) was a prominent Italian mathematician and engineer from Genoa. He made significant contributions to the field of mechanics and is known for his work on the principles of statics and dynamics.

The Castello surname can also be found in various place names throughout Italy, such as Castello d'Argile in Emilia-Romagna, Castello di Godego in Veneto, and Castello di Lecce in Apulia, further reinforcing its connection to fortified settlements and defensive structures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Castello

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

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

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

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