2000
#127,948
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 123
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Cerenzia
An Italian surname possibly derived from the name of a town or location.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Cerenzia. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cerenzia 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Cerenzia in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cerenzia, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cerenzia
The surname Cerenzia is of Italian origin, originating from the southern regions of the country, particularly in the areas around Naples and Campania. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "cereus," which means "made of wax," suggesting a possible connection to an ancestor's occupation or trade involving wax production or related crafts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cerenzia can be found in the 15th century, when a certain Girolamo Cerenzia was mentioned in historical records from the city of Naples. This individual likely held a notable position or was involved in significant events during that time period.
In the 16th century, the name Cerenzia appeared in various documents and manuscripts from the region, including records of property ownership and legal transactions. Some of these documents were preserved in the archives of local churches and municipalities, providing valuable insights into the lives and activities of those bearing the surname.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Cerenzia family seems to have spread throughout Italy, with members residing in different cities and regions. Notably, a certain Francesco Cerenzia (1628-1695) was a renowned artist and sculptor from Naples, renowned for his intricate wax sculptures depicting religious and mythological scenes.
In the 19th century, the Cerenzia name gained further prominence with the birth of Vincenzo Cerenzia (1825-1903), a prominent Italian politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Public Works and later as the Mayor of Naples. His contributions to the city's infrastructure and urban development left a lasting impact.
Another notable figure bearing the Cerenzia surname was Maria Cerenzia (1876-1948), a celebrated opera singer and soprano who performed on some of the most prestigious stages in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her exceptional vocal talents and performances were widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.
It is worth mentioning that variations in spelling, such as Cerenzia, Cerenzia, and Cerenza, have been observed throughout historical records, reflecting regional dialects and evolving orthographic conventions over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cerenzia
Among Census respondents with the surname Cerenzia, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Cerenzia 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 Cerenzia surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White99.1% · 116
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Cerenzia
Cerenzia 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
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
-1 bearers (-0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 9,379 places
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
-5 bearers (-4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,943 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #127,948 | 123 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.8%) | Down 9,379 places |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.1%) | Down 6,943 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 Cerenzia 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 | #137,327 | #144,270 | -5.1% |
| Count | 122 | 117 | -4.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Cerenzia bearers went from 122 to 117 (-4.1% change). The surname moved down 6,943 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #144,270.
FAQ
Cerenzia surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Cerenzia?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Cerenzia. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Cerenzia?
Cerenzia ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 117 people with the surname Cerenzia. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Cerenzia.
Has Cerenzia become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Cerenzia went from 122 recorded bearers to 117. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Cerenzia?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cerenzia, the largest self-reported group is White at 99.1%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Cerenzia in the 2020 Census, accounting for 99.1% (116 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Cerenzia appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (99.1%), Asian/Pacific Islander (0.9%). 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 Cerenzia (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 Cerenzia mean?
An Italian surname possibly derived from the name of a town or location. 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 Cerenzia (0.04 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 common is the surname Cerenzia?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Cerenzia on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.