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

Duce, 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 Duce surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Duce in America

Duce is the 42790th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Duce surname appeared 506 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 Duce.

We can also compare 2010 data for Duce 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 Duce

The surname DUCE originates from Italy, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "duce," meaning "leader" or "guide," which itself has roots in the Latin word "dux." The name was likely bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

In the early years of its use, the surname DUCE was primarily concentrated in the regions of Tuscany and Lombardy, where it was often associated with prominent families and noble lineages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Florentine Priors' Registry of 1282, which mentions a certain Guido Duce, a member of the city's governing council.

As the name spread throughout the Italian peninsula, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Duci, Ducio, and Ducce, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. Some notable individuals bearing the DUCE surname include:

1. Filippo Duce (1460-1528), a renowned Italian sculptor and architect from Florence, known for his work on the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.
2. Girolamo Duce (1570-1631), a Venetian playwright and poet who gained recognition for his tragedies and comedies.
3. Carlo Duce (1677-1743), a celebrated Neapolitan painter and fresco artist, whose works adorned numerous churches and palaces throughout Naples.
4. Agostino Duce (1792-1868), an Italian historian and scholar from Verona, famous for his comprehensive account of the city's history, "Storia di Verona."
5. Giovanni Duce (1835-1901), a Milanese industrialist and philanthropist who founded several educational institutions and charitable organizations in his native city.

While the surname DUCE is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of Italy's rich onomastic heritage, reflecting the country's diverse cultural and linguistic traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Duce

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

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

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

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