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

Defendini, 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 Defendini surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Defendini in America

Defendini is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Defendini surname appeared 103 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 Defendini.

We can also compare 2010 data for Defendini 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 Defendini

The surname DEFENDINI has its origins in Italy, dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "difendere," meaning "to defend" or "to protect." The name likely originated in the region of Tuscany, where it was initially associated with military personnel or individuals who were involved in the defense of their communities.

During the Renaissance period, the name DEFENDINI appeared in several historical records and manuscripts, particularly in areas like Florence and Siena. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in a document from the Archivio di Stato di Firenze (State Archives of Florence), dated 1492, which references a certain Giovanni Defendini, a soldier in the service of the Medici family.

As the name spread throughout Italy, it took on various spellings, such as Difendini, Difendino, and Defendino. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation preferences.

One notable individual bearing the surname DEFENDINI was Matteo Defendini, a renowned architect and engineer who lived in the 16th century. He is credited with designing several iconic structures in Venice, including the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, which now houses the Renaissance Venice hotel.

In the 17th century, the name DEFENDINI gained recognition in the literary world with the works of Antonio Defendini, a poet and playwright from Verona. His most celebrated work, "La Gerusalemme Conquistata" (The Conquered Jerusalem), was a continuation of Torquato Tasso's epic poem "Gerusalemme Liberata" (Jerusalem Delivered).

Another notable figure was Pietro Defendini, a 19th-century painter from Milan, known for his landscapes and portraiture. His works can be found in several prestigious art collections throughout Italy.

The surname DEFENDINI has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as Defendini di Brisighella, a small village in the province of Ravenna, and Defendini di Montefiore dell'Aso, a town in the Marche region.

While the name DEFENDINI is not as common today as it once was, it remains a proud reminder of Italy's rich cultural heritage and the legacy of those who bore it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Defendini

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

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

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

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