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Very Rare Last name

Discala

Italian surname indicating someone from the town of Scala in southern Italy.

According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Discala. That puts it at #54,864 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).

This page is the full Name Census profile for the Discala 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

446

1 in 768,507

Census rank

#54,864

2010 decennial data

Per 100,000

0.1

Frequency rate

Recorded bearers

375

very rare in the US

Popularity narrative

The Census Bureau recorded 375 bearers of the surname Discala in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54864th position in the national surname ranking.

Among Census respondents with the surname Discala, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).

Origin

Meaning and origin of Discala

The surname DISCALA originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian words "di scala," which translate to "of the stairs" or "from the stairs." This suggests that the name may have been used to identify someone who lived near or worked with stairs, possibly as a builder or architect.

The earliest known recorded instance of the DISCALA surname dates back to the 13th century in the city of Naples, where it appeared in a municipal record. During this time, surnames were becoming more common as a way to distinguish between individuals with the same given name.

In the 14th century, the name DISCALA appeared in a document from the city of Palermo, Sicily, where it was spelled as "Di Scala." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the DISCALA surname was Pietro DISCALA, a Sicilian nobleman who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and played a significant role in the administration of the Kingdom of Sicily.

Another notable individual was Girolamo DISCALA, a 16th-century Italian painter born in Naples. He was known for his religious paintings and frescoes, many of which can still be found in churches throughout southern Italy.

In the 17th century, the DISCALA surname appeared in various records from the city of Genoa, where it was sometimes spelled as "Discalzi." One notable figure from this time period was Andrea DISCALA, a Genoese merchant and trader who was involved in the lucrative spice trade between Europe and the East Indies.

During the 18th century, the DISCALA surname spread throughout Italy and beyond. Francesco DISCALA, born in 1745 in Naples, was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

Another notable individual was Vincenzo DISCALA, a 19th-century Italian composer and conductor from Palermo. He is best known for his operas and sacred works, which were widely performed throughout Italy during his lifetime.

While the DISCALA surname originated in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, the name's roots can be traced back to the medieval period in Italy, where it was likely associated with individuals who worked with or lived near stairs.

Demographics

Ancestry and ethnicity for Discala

Among Census respondents with the surname Discala, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and Two or More Races (1.9%).

The bar chart below shows how Discala 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 Discala surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.

  • White90.4%
  • Hispanic or Latino6.9%
  • Two or more races1.9%
  • Unknown or suppressed0.8%

Year on year

2000 vs 2010 Census

How has the Discala surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.

Census year comparison

20002010
Bearer countPer 100,000 residents20002010200020103413750.10.1
Metric 2000 2010 Change
Rank #56,120 #54,864 2.2%
Count 341 375 10.0%
Per 100K 0.13 0.13 0.0%

Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Discala bearers went from 341 to 375 (+10.0% change). The surname moved up 1,256 positions in the national ranking, going from #56,120 to #54,864.

Notable bearers

Famous people with the surname Discala

FAQ

Discala surname: questions and answers

How common is the last name Discala?

The surname Discala holds position #54,864 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.

What is the ethnic background of the Discala surname?

Among Census respondents with the surname Discala, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (6.9%) and Two or More Races (1.9%). 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.

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Discala

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