Celli last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Celli

An Italian surname thought to derive from the Italian word celliere, meaning cellarman or butler.

Celli, 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 Celli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Celli in America

Celli is the 21750th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Celli surname appeared 1,196 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 Celli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Celli 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 21750 21025 3.39%
Count 1,196 1,165 2.63%
Proportion per 100k 0.41 0.43 -4.76%

The history of the last name Celli

The surname Celli is of Italian origin and is believed to have originated in the regions of Tuscany and Lazio during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Latin word "cella," which means "cell" or "small room," and it likely referred to someone who lived in a small house or a particular type of dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Celli surname can be found in the historical records of Florence, where a family by the name of Celli is mentioned in the 13th century. This family was involved in various trades and professions, including banking and commerce, which were crucial to the economic and cultural development of the city during the Renaissance period.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Giovanni Celli (1310-1375) was a prominent Florentine merchant and banker who played a significant role in the city's financial affairs. He was also a patron of the arts and supported many artists and writers of his time.

Another historical reference to the Celli name can be found in the town of Celli, located in the province of Foggia, in the Apulia region of southern Italy. This town's name is believed to have derived from the Latin word "cella," suggesting a possible connection to the surname's origins.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Celli was Battista Celli (1460-1525), a renowned Italian painter who was active during the High Renaissance period. His works can be found in various churches and galleries across Italy, with some of his most notable pieces being the frescoes in the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna.

In the 16th century, the Celli family gained prominence in the city of Rome, where they were involved in ecclesiastical affairs. Cardinal Giovanni Celli (1528-1598) was a powerful figure in the Catholic Church and played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation.

During the 18th century, Vincenzo Celli (1710-1784) was a notable Italian architect who designed several churches and palaces in Rome and the surrounding areas. His works are considered important examples of the Baroque and Neoclassical architectural styles.

Francesco Celli (1834-1909) was an Italian engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early electric motors and generators. He is credited with inventing the first practical alternating current electric motor, which paved the way for the widespread use of electric power.

Throughout history, the Celli surname has been associated with various professions, including banking, commerce, art, architecture, engineering, and religious leadership. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has grown to represent a rich cultural heritage and has left an indelible mark on various aspects of Italian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Celli

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

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 Celli was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 92.56% 1,107
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 1.17% 14
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.67% 20
Hispanic Origin 4.26% 51

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 Celli has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 92.56% 94.76% -2.35%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 1.17% 0.86% 30.54%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.67% 1.80% -7.49%
Hispanic 4.26% 2.32% 58.97%

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Celli last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/celli-surname-popularity/.

"Celli last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/celli-surname-popularity/. Accessed 25 April, 2025

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

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