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

Dispensa, 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 Dispensa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dispensa in America

Dispensa is the 69392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dispensa surname appeared 283 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 Dispensa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dispensa 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 Dispensa

The surname DISPENSA has its origins in Italy, specifically from the region of Sicily. It dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Italian word "dispensa," which means pantry or storeroom. The name likely originated from an occupation or location associated with a pantry or storehouse.

In the 13th century, there are records of the name DISPENSA appearing in various Sicilian documents and manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances is in a land registry from the town of Palermo in 1237, listing a "Giovanni DISPENSA" as a landowner.

During the 14th century, the name DISPENSA appeared in several historic records, including a tax roll from the city of Catania in 1348, which listed a "Filippo DISPENSA" as a taxpayer. Additionally, a church record from the town of Messina in 1372 mentioned a "Antonino DISPENSA" as a witness to a marriage ceremony.

In the 15th century, the name DISPENSA spread to other parts of Italy, particularly to the regions of Calabria and Campania. A notable figure from this time was Matteo DISPENSA (1412-1492), a scholar and philosopher from Naples who authored several treatises on logic and metaphysics.

The 16th century saw the name DISPENSA gain further prominence, with several individuals making significant contributions. Girolamo DISPENSA (1523-1591) was a renowned architect from Palermo who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of San Domenico. Additionally, Pietro DISPENSA (1548-1624) was a celebrated painter from Messina, known for his religious and mythological works.

In the 17th century, the name DISPENSA continued to be well-represented. One notable figure was Vincenzo DISPENSA (1631-1698), a lawyer and politician from Catania who served as a judge in the city's court system. Another prominent individual was Maria DISPENSA (1647-1715), a nun from Palermo who founded a convent and was renowned for her philanthropic work.

As the centuries progressed, the DISPENSA name continued to be present throughout Italy, with individuals from various professions and backgrounds bearing this surname. While some records may have been lost or not preserved, the name's longevity and spread across different regions of Italy attest to its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dispensa

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

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

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

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