2000
#36,045
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 588
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.22
Very Rare Last name
Contini
An Italian surname indicating someone living in the countryside or rural areas.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 635 Americans carry the last name Contini. That puts it at #42,180 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.19 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 539,771 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Contini 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
635
1 in 539,771
Census rank
#42,180
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
554
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 554 bearers of the surname Contini in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 42180th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Contini, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.2%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Contini
The surname CONTINI is of Italian origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have originated in the Tuscany region of Italy, specifically in the city of Florence. It is derived from the Italian word "conte," which means "count" or "earl."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the CONTINI surname can be found in the historical records of Florence from the 13th century. These documents mention a prominent family by the name of CONTINI, who held significant influence and power in the region during that time.
During the Renaissance era, the CONTINI name gained further prominence. There are records of several notable individuals bearing this surname, including Giovanni CONTINI (1549-1612), a renowned sculptor and architect who contributed to the design and construction of several churches and palaces in Florence.
Another notable figure from this period was Bartolomeo CONTINI (1578-1644), a merchant and banker who played a crucial role in the economic and financial affairs of the Florentine Republic.
In the 18th century, the CONTINI name spread beyond the borders of Italy. Records show that a branch of the family migrated to France, where they established themselves in the city of Marseille. One of the most famous members of this French branch was Jacques CONTINI (1737-1815), a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Marseille's port and trade infrastructure.
Moving into the 19th century, the CONTINI surname gained recognition in the field of literature. Carlo CONTINI (1812-1879), an Italian poet and writer, was widely celebrated for his works that captured the essence of Italian culture and society during that era.
Another noteworthy individual was Maria CONTINI (1856-1932), an Italian educator and advocate for women's rights. She was instrumental in establishing several schools and educational programs for girls in her native region of Tuscany.
Throughout history, the CONTINI surname has been associated with various professions, including artists, scholars, politicians, and businesspeople. While the name originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have contributed to the rich tapestry of their respective communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Contini
Among Census respondents with the surname Contini, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.2%) and Two or More Races (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Contini 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 Contini surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.4% · 484
- Hispanic or Latino9.2% · 51
- Two or more races2.9% · 16
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 2
- Black or African American0.2% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Contini
Contini 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
#38,103
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 582
-6 bearers (-1.0%)
Per 100,000 0.20
Rank movement Down 2,058 places
2020
#42,180
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 554
-28 bearers (-4.8%)
Per 100,000 0.19
Rank movement Down 4,077 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #36,045 | 588 | 0.22 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #38,103 | 582 | 0.20 | -6 bearers (-1.0%) | Down 2,058 places |
| 2020 | #42,180 | 554 | 0.19 | -28 bearers (-4.8%) | Down 4,077 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 Contini 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 | #38,103 | #42,180 | -10.7% |
| Count | 582 | 554 | -4.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.19 | -7.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Contini bearers went from 582 to 554 (-4.8% change). The surname moved down 4,077 positions in the national ranking, going from #38,103 to #42,180.
FAQ
Contini surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Contini?
Name Census estimates that about 635 living Americans carry the surname Contini. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 539,771 residents.
How common is Contini?
Contini ranks #42,180 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.19 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 554 people with the surname Contini. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (635), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.19 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.19 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 Contini.
Has Contini become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Contini went from 582 recorded bearers to 554. That is a decrease of 28 (-4.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #38,103 to #42,180.
What does the Census say about the background of Contini?
Among Census respondents with the surname Contini, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.2%) and Two or More Races (2.9%). 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 Contini in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.4% (484 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Contini appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.4%), Hispanic (9.2%), Two or More Races (2.9%). 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 Contini (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 Contini mean?
An Italian surname indicating someone living in the countryside or rural areas. 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 Contini (0.19 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 many people have the surname Contini?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.