Cusa last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Cusa

An Italian surname originating as a regional name for someone from Cusa, Italy.

Cusa, 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 Cusa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cusa in America

Cusa is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cusa surname appeared 137 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 Cusa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cusa 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 125282 138741 -10.20%
Count 137 111 20.97%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.04 22.22%

The history of the last name Cusa

The surname CUSA has its origins in Italy, specifically in the region of Campania. It emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Italian word "cusa," which means "house" or "dwelling." This suggests that the surname may have initially referred to a notable or distinctive residence associated with the family's lineage.

One of the earliest documented references to the CUSA surname can be found in the archives of the city of Naples, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention individuals bearing the name in connection with various transactions and official documents. The name's presence in these historical documents indicates its establishment as a prominent surname in the region during that time.

A notable figure bearing the CUSA surname was Niccolò Cusano, also known as Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464). He was a renowned philosopher, theologian, and cardinal of the Catholic Church. His contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy were significant, earning him a place as one of the most influential thinkers of the Renaissance.

Another individual of historical significance was Baldassarre Cusa (1453-1508), an Italian humanist and scholar. He served as a papal secretary and was renowned for his literary works, including translations of ancient Greek texts. His efforts helped to preserve and disseminate classical literature during the Renaissance period.

In the 16th century, the name CUSA appeared in various records from the city of Salerno, located in the same region of Campania. These documents mention individuals engaged in various professions, such as merchants, artisans, and landowners, indicating the surname's presence across different social strata.

The CUSA surname also has connections to certain place names in Italy. For instance, the town of Cusa, located in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region, shares a similar spelling and pronunciation. It is possible that the surname originated from or was influenced by this particular location, though definitive evidence is lacking.

Throughout the centuries, the CUSA surname has been carried by numerous individuals, including scholars, artists, and professionals. One notable example is Giovanni Battista Cusa (1619-1668), an Italian painter active during the Baroque period, known for his religious works and frescoes adorning churches in Naples and its surrounding areas.

While the surname CUSA may not be as prominent as some others in modern times, its historical roots and significance in Italian history are undeniable. From its medieval origins in the Campania region to its association with notable figures and place names, the CUSA surname has left an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of Italy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cusa

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

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 Cusa was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 89.05% 122
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 6.57% 9

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

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 89.05% 91.89% -3.14%
Black 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Hispanic 6.57% 6.31% 4.04%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Cusa last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 18, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/cusa-surname-popularity/.

"Cusa last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/cusa-surname-popularity/. Accessed 18 May, 2025

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

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