Deniro
An Italian surname meaning "the black", possibly referring to dark hair or complexion.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 274 Americans carry the last name Deniro. That puts it at #79,846 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,250,928 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Deniro 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
274
1 in 1,250,928
Census rank
#79,846
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
238
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 238 bearers of the surname Deniro in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 79846th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Deniro, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Deniro
The surname DENIRO has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian phrase "de Niro," which translates to "from the Black" or "from the Dark One." This name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive moniker for someone with a dark complexion or hair color.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the DENIRO surname can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Barese, a collection of historical documents from the southern Italian city of Bari. In this manuscript, a certain "Petrus de Niro" is mentioned in a legal document dated 1278.
During the Renaissance era, the DENIRO name appeared in various records and documents across Italy. In Florence, a prominent family of artists and sculptors bore this surname, including the renowned sculptor Girolamo de Niro (1476-1555), known for his works in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore.
In the 17th century, the DENIRO name spread to other regions of Italy, including Naples, where a notable figure was the philosopher and theologian Tommaso de Niro (1598-1672). His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were widely influential during his lifetime.
As Italian immigration to the Americas increased in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many individuals with the DENIRO surname settled in countries like the United States and Argentina. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States is that of Antonio De Niro, who arrived in New York from Naples in 1854.
Perhaps the most famous individual with the DENIRO surname is the renowned American actor Robert De Niro, born in 1943. Known for his iconic roles in films such as "The Godfather Part II," "Taxi Driver," and "Goodfellas," De Niro is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation.
Other notable individuals with the DENIRO surname include the Italian artist and sculptor Enrico De Niro (1884-1961), whose works can be found in various museums and galleries across Italy, and the Argentine writer and journalist Julio De Niro (1922-2001), who was known for his work in promoting Argentine literature and culture.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Deniro
Among Census respondents with the surname Deniro, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Deniro 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 Deniro surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.9%
- Hispanic or Latino4.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Deniro 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #79,846 | #79,846 | 0.0% |
| Count | 238 | 238 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Deniro bearers went from 238 to 238 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #79,846 to #79,846.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Deniro
FAQ
Deniro surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Deniro?
The surname Deniro holds position #79,846 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 274 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Deniro surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Deniro, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.6%). 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.