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

DeCaro, 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 DeCaro surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeCaro in America

DeCaro is the 14878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeCaro surname appeared 1,989 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname DeCaro.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeCaro 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 DeCaro

The surname DeCaro has its origins in Italy, where it first appeared in the region of Campania during the late medieval period. The name is derived from the Italian word "caro," meaning "dear" or "beloved," and likely originated as a nickname or descriptive name for a beloved or cherished person.

One of the earliest documented references to the DeCaro name can be found in the records of the Archivio di Stato di Napoli (State Archives of Naples), which date back to the 15th century. These archives contain numerous mentions of individuals bearing the DeCaro surname, suggesting that the name was well-established in the Campania region by this time.

In the 16th century, the DeCaro name appears in various historical documents, including the cadastral records of the Kingdom of Naples. One notable individual from this period was Giovanni DeCaro, a landowner and merchant who lived in the town of Avellino in the late 1500s.

As the DeCaro family spread throughout Italy over the centuries, variations of the name emerged, such as De Caro, Di Caro, and Decaro. These spellings reflected regional dialects and scribal conventions at the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the DeCaro surname was Niccolò DeCaro, a renowned painter from Naples who lived in the early 17th century. His works adorned several churches and palaces in the city, cementing his place in the annals of Italian art history.

In the 18th century, the DeCaro name gained prominence with the birth of Antonio DeCaro (1738-1819), a celebrated Neapolitan composer and music theorist. His compositions and teachings influenced generations of musicians throughout Italy and beyond.

Another notable figure with the DeCaro surname was Giuseppe DeCaro (1819-1892), a prominent lawyer and political activist from Salerno. He played a significant role in the Risorgimento, the movement that led to the unification of Italy in the 19th century.

During the 20th century, the DeCaro family continued to make its mark in various fields. One such individual was Gennaro DeCaro (1901-1983), a renowned sculptor from Naples whose works can be found in museums and public spaces throughout Italy.

While the DeCaro surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration. However, the name's rich history and connection to the Campania region of Italy remain a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeCaro

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

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

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

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