Cuoco
An Italian surname meaning "cook" or "chef".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 720 Americans carry the last name Cuoco. That puts it at #35,912 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.21 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 476,048 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cuoco surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
720
1 in 476,048
Census rank
#35,912
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
625
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 625 bearers of the surname Cuoco in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 35912th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cuoco, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cuoco
The surname "CUOCO" is of Italian origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Italian word "cuoco," which translates to "cook" or "chef." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as cooks or held culinary professions during the Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded instances of the "CUOCO" surname can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries, primarily concentrated in the regions of Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania. Notable examples include a record from 1275 mentioning a certain "Petrus Cuoco" in the city of Siena, and a document from 1327 referencing a "Guido Cuoco" in Rome.
One of the earliest known bearers of the "CUOCO" surname was Giovanni Cuoco, a renowned chef and culinary author who lived in Naples during the 15th century. His influential cookbook, "Cuoco Napolitano," published in 1499, became a seminal work in the development of Neapolitan cuisine.
During the Renaissance period, the "CUOCO" surname gained further prominence with the birth of Vincenzo Cuoco (1770-1823), a celebrated Italian writer, philosopher, and political theorist. His influential work, "Saggio Storico sulla Rivoluzione Napoletana del 1799" (Historical Essay on the Neapolitan Revolution of 1799), is considered a landmark in Italian historiography.
Another notable figure with the "CUOCO" surname was Camillo Cuoco (1808-1891), an Italian artist and painter who specialized in landscape and genre scenes. His works were widely acclaimed and exhibited in major galleries across Europe during the 19th century.
The "CUOCO" surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as the town of Cuoco in the province of Salerno, Campania. This suggests that some branches of the family may have adopted the surname from their place of origin or residence.
While the "CUOCO" surname has a strong presence in Italy, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to Italian immigration. Prominent individuals with this surname can be found in various fields, including literature, art, and academia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cuoco
Among Census respondents with the surname Cuoco, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Cuoco bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Cuoco surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.2%
- Hispanic or Latino3.5%
- Unknown or suppressed1.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cuoco surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,757 | #35,912 | -3.3% |
| Count | 615 | 625 | 1.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.23 | 0.21 | -8.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Cuoco bearers went from 615 to 625 (+1.6% change). The surname moved down 1,155 positions in the national ranking, going from #34,757 to #35,912.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cuoco
FAQ
Cuoco surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cuoco?
The surname Cuoco holds position #35,912 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 720 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.21 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cuoco surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cuoco, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.