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

DeCamara, 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 DeCamara surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of DeCamara in America

DeCamara is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeCamara surname appeared 100 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname DeCamara.

The history of the last name DeCamara

The surname Decamara is believed to have its origins in Italy, specifically from the regions of Sicily and Calabria during the late medieval period. The name is thought to derive from the Italian term "di camera," which means "of the chamber" or "of the room," indicating a possible association with a chamberlain or someone serving in the private chambers of a noble. Over time, the name evolved into "Decamara," combining to form a distinct familial identifier.

In historical records, the surname Decamara first appeared in the context of 14th-century Sicily. Manuscripts and local administrative documents from that time reference individuals with the surname Decamara in relation to property ownership and social standing. An early spelling variation recorded is "De Camera," which gradually morphed into the more modern Decamara by the 1500s.

One notable figure with the surname is Pietro Decamara, born in 1465, who served as a councilor in Palermo. His contributions to municipal policies and local governance during the early 1500s are well-documented in archival records. Another famous bearer is Maria Decamara, a prominent noblewoman born in 1523 in Calabria, who was known for her extensive charitable works and patronage of the arts.

In the 17th century, Giovanni Decamara, born in 1602, was a celebrated poet and scholar from Naples. His works include several influential treatises on language and literature, and his legacy is preserved in various academic references. In the 18th century, Antonio Decamara, born in 1734 in Rome, made a name for himself as a painter whose baroque-styled art graced many churches and public buildings.

By the 19th century, the surname Decamara had reached broader recognition. One of the notable bearers of the time is Francesco Decamara, born in 1815 in Palermo, who played a significant role in the Italian unification movement. His involvement in the political and military efforts to unify Italy under a single nation-state is featured in several historical accounts from that period.

Throughout history, the surname Decamara has carried a legacy of nobility, intellectual contribution, and artistic patronage. The evolution of the name from "di camera" to Decamara underscores a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance tied to Italy's medieval and renaissance heritage. The individuals bearing this name have left an indelible mark on various facets of Italian history, from governance and scholarship to the arts and national movements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeCamara

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for DeCamara 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!