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

Donzo, 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 Donzo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Donzo in America

Donzo is the 86005th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Donzo surname appeared 217 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 Donzo.

The history of the last name Donzo

The surname DONZO is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Piedmont, Liguria, and Lombardy. It is thought to be derived from the Italic root "dun," meaning hill or mountain, with the suffix "-zo" indicating a diminutive form. This suggests that the name may have been initially applied to someone who lived near a small hill or on higher ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname DONZO can be found in the records of the town of Savona, Liguria, dating back to the 14th century. A merchant named Pietro DONZO is mentioned in a document from 1372, indicating that the name was already established in the region by that time.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various historical documents from the city of Genoa, which was a major maritime republic at the time. One notable individual was Andrea DONZO, a shipbuilder who was commissioned to construct several galleys for the Genoese fleet in the 1470s.

As the DONZO family spread throughout Italy, the name underwent some variations in spelling, such as DONZIO, DONZELLI, and DONZETTI. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), the renowned Italian composer known for operas like "Lucia di Lammermoor" and "L'Elisir d'Amore."

Another notable figure was Girolamo DONZO (1505-1573), a Franciscan friar and historian from Genoa who wrote extensively about the ecclesiastical history of his city. His works, such as "Istoria dell'antichità di Genova," provide valuable insights into the religious and cultural life of Renaissance-era Genoa.

In the 18th century, the DONZO name gained prominence in the Piedmont region, particularly in the city of Turin. One member of this branch was Carlo DONZO (1724-1803), a respected architect who designed several churches and palaces in and around Turin, including the Church of San Massimo and the Palazzo Chiablese.

During the 19th century, the DONZO family continued to make its mark in various fields. Giuseppe DONZO (1820-1892) was a prominent lawyer and politician from Savona who served as a member of the Italian Parliament and played a role in the unification of Italy.

While the surname DONZO may not be as widespread today as some other Italian surnames, its rich history and diverse contributions to various aspects of Italian culture and society are a testament to the enduring legacy of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Donzo

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

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 Donzo 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.

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

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

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