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

Cerza, 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 Cerza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cerza in America

Cerza is the 86005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cerza surname appeared 217 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 Cerza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cerza 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 Cerza

The surname Cerza originated in Italy, where it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "cerza," which means "deer," suggesting a possible connection to hunting or forestry professions among the name's earliest bearers.

The earliest known record of the name appears in a manuscript from the town of Salerno, in the Campania region of southern Italy, dated 1187. This document mentions a certain "Petrus Cerza," indicating the presence of the surname in that area during the late 12th century.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to other parts of Italy, including the regions of Calabria and Sicily. In a historical document from Palermo, dated 1276, a "Guglielmo Cerza" is mentioned, suggesting the name's presence in Sicily at that time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Cerza was Francesco Cerza, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in Naples during the 15th century (approximate dates 1420-1490). His works, including poetry and philosophical treatises, were highly regarded in his time and contributed to the cultural renaissance of the region.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Cerza family settled in the town of Caserta, near Naples, where they became influential landowners and patrons of the arts. One notable member of this branch was Giulio Cerza (1532-1607), a renowned architect who designed several churches and palaces in the region.

Another prominent figure with the surname Cerza was Girolamo Cerza (1588-1654), a Jesuit priest and mathematician from Palermo, Sicily. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and published several influential works on geometry and calculus.

In the 18th century, the Cerza surname gained prominence in the campo region of Calabria, where a family of landowners and merchants rose to prominence. One member of this family, Antonio Cerza (1725-1792), was a successful businessman who played a significant role in the economic development of the region.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Cerza has been found in various historical records and documents across Italy, indicating its widespread presence and influence in various regions and fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cerza

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

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

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

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