2000
#144,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Desciscio
An Italian surname derived from the Italian word "discendere" meaning "to descend."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 118 Americans carry the last name Desciscio. That puts it at #154,182 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,904,698 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Desciscio surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
118
1 in 2,904,698
Census rank
#154,182
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Desciscio in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154182nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Desciscio, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Desciscio
The surname DESCISCIO originates from Italy, with its roots tracing back to the late Middle Ages. This name is believed to have derived from the Latin word "desciscere," which means "to revolt" or "to secede." It is speculated that the name was initially given to individuals who had participated in rebellions or secessions against local authorities or feudal lords.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the chronicles of the Commune of Florence, dating back to the 13th century. In these records, a certain Giovanni DESCISCIO is mentioned as a prominent merchant and member of the city's ruling council. This suggests that the family had already established itself as a respected and influential lineage within the Florentine society during that period.
In the 14th century, the DESCISCIO name appears in several historical documents from the region of Tuscany. Notably, a Matteo DESCISCIO is recorded as a skilled artisan and sculptor, contributing to the construction of various churches and public buildings in the city of Siena. His works are said to have been greatly admired by his contemporaries, earning him a reputation as a master craftsman.
As the centuries progressed, the DESCISCIO family expanded its reach beyond Tuscany. In the 16th century, a branch of the family settled in the Papal States, where a certain Giulio DESCISCIO (1512-1589) served as a high-ranking official in the Vatican's administrative ranks. His dedication and loyalty to the Catholic Church earned him the respect of several popes during his lifetime.
Another notable figure bearing the DESCISCIO surname was Lucrezia DESCISCIO (1678-1743), a celebrated opera singer from Naples. Her exceptional voice and stage presence made her a celebrated performer in the vibrant cultural scene of 17th-century Italy. Lucrezia's performances were renowned throughout the Italian peninsula, and she was often invited to perform for the nobility and ruling classes.
In the 19th century, the DESCISCIO name gained prominence in the field of law and jurisprudence. One such figure was Giuseppe DESCISCIO (1821-1892), a renowned lawyer and legal scholar from Milan. His extensive knowledge of civil and canon law earned him the respect of his peers, and he was frequently consulted on complex legal matters by the Italian government and the Vatican.
While the DESCISCIO surname has its roots firmly planted in Italian history, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the earliest and most notable bearers of this name can be traced back to the rich tapestry of Italian history, where they left an indelible mark across various fields and professions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Desciscio
Among Census respondents with the surname Desciscio, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Desciscio bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Desciscio surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White97.1% · 100
- Hispanic or Latino2.9% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Desciscio
Desciscio appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#147,253
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+7 bearers (+6.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 2,345 places
2020
#154,182
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-9 bearers (-8.0%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 6,929 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #144,908 | 105 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #147,253 | 112 | 0.04 | +7 bearers (+6.7%) | Down 2,345 places |
| 2020 | #154,182 | 103 | 0.03 | -9 bearers (-8.0%) | Down 6,929 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Desciscio surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #147,253 | #154,182 | -4.7% |
| Count | 112 | 103 | -8.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -13.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Desciscio bearers went from 112 to 103 (-8.0% change). The surname moved down 6,929 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #154,182.
FAQ
Desciscio surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Desciscio?
Name Census estimates that about 118 living Americans carry the surname Desciscio. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,904,698 residents.
How common is Desciscio?
Desciscio ranks #154,182 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 103 people with the surname Desciscio. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (118), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Desciscio.
Has Desciscio become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Desciscio went from 112 recorded bearers to 103. That is a decrease of 9 (-8.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #147,253 to #154,182.
What does the Census say about the background of Desciscio?
Among Census respondents with the surname Desciscio, the largest self-reported group is White at 97.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Desciscio in the 2020 Census, accounting for 97.1% (100 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Desciscio appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (97.1%), Hispanic (2.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Desciscio (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Desciscio mean?
An Italian surname derived from the Italian word "discendere" meaning "to descend." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Desciscio (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Desciscio?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.