2000
#149,328
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Ferlauto
An Italian surname originating from the term "ferra lauta" (lavish iron worker).
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Ferlauto. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ferlauto 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
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Ferlauto in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ferlauto, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.3%) and Black (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ferlauto
The surname Ferlauto originated from Italy, specifically in the southern regions of Campania and Calabria. It first appeared in records dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Italian words "ferro" (iron) and "lavoro" (work), suggesting that the original bearers of this surname were likely involved in iron-related trades or metalworking professions.
One of the earliest known references to the Ferlauto name can be found in the ecclesiastical records of the town of Amalfi, located in the province of Salerno, Campania. These records mention a certain Giovanni Ferlauto, born in 1587, who was a skilled blacksmith and metalworker.
In the 17th century, the Ferlauto family gained prominence in the city of Naples, where they owned several successful ironworks and foundries. Notable figures from this period include Domenico Ferlauto (1625-1698), a renowned master ironsmith, and his son Gennaro Ferlauto (1657-1721), who was appointed as the official ironworker for the Royal Palace of Naples.
As the Ferlauto family expanded and migrated to different regions of Italy, variations in the spelling of the surname emerged, such as Ferraluto, Ferraluti, and Ferraluta. These variations often reflected local dialects and pronunciations.
In the 18th century, the Ferlauto name appeared in the records of the city of Reggio Calabria, located in the Calabria region. Pietro Ferlauto (1742-1810) was a respected architect and engineer who contributed to the reconstruction efforts in the city following the devastating earthquake of 1783.
Another notable figure was Vincenzo Ferlauto (1802-1876), a lawyer and political activist from Cosenza, Calabria. He played a significant role in the Risorgimento movement, advocating for the unification of Italy and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
Throughout the centuries, the Ferlauto surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, professionals, and prominent figures in their respective fields. While this overview highlights some of the historical references and notable individuals, it is by no means an exhaustive account of the rich history and legacy associated with this Italian surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ferlauto
Among Census respondents with the surname Ferlauto, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.3%) and Black (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Ferlauto 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 Ferlauto surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.2% · 102
- Two or more races4.3% · 5
- Black or African American3.4% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Ferlauto
Ferlauto 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
#137,327
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 122
+21 bearers (+20.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 12,001 places
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
-5 bearers (-4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 6,943 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #149,328 | 101 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #137,327 | 122 | 0.04 | +21 bearers (+20.8%) | Up 12,001 places |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-4.1%) | Down 6,943 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 Ferlauto 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 | #137,327 | #144,270 | -5.1% |
| Count | 122 | 117 | -4.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Ferlauto bearers went from 122 to 117 (-4.1% change). The surname moved down 6,943 positions in the national ranking, going from #137,327 to #144,270.
FAQ
Ferlauto surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Ferlauto?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Ferlauto. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Ferlauto?
Ferlauto ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 117 people with the surname Ferlauto. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Ferlauto.
Has Ferlauto become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Ferlauto went from 122 recorded bearers to 117. That is a decrease of 5 (-4.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #137,327 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Ferlauto?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ferlauto, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.3%) and Black (3.4%). 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 Ferlauto in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.2% (102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Ferlauto appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.2%), Two or More Races (4.3%), Black (3.4%). 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 Ferlauto (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 Ferlauto mean?
An Italian surname originating from the term "ferra lauta" (lavish iron worker). 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 Ferlauto (0.04 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 Americans have the surname Ferlauto?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.