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

Festa, 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 Festa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Festa in America

Festa is the 11925th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Festa surname appeared 2,626 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Festa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Festa 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 Festa

The surname Festa originated in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Italian word "festa," meaning "feast" or "festival." This name was likely given to someone who lived near a church or town where annual feasts or celebrations were held.

The surname can be traced back to various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Lombardy, and Sicily. In some areas, it was also spelled as "Feste" or "Festi." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from 1235, mentioning a "Guglielmo Festa" from Florence.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several historical records. For example, a "Pietro Festa" was mentioned in a Venetian manuscript from 1342, while a "Giovanni Festa" was recorded in a tax register in Genoa in 1379.

During the Renaissance period, the name became more prominent. One notable figure was the Italian sculptor and architect Giacomo Festa (1515-1597), who was responsible for creating the marble decorations in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Another significant individual was the Italian philosopher and poet Costanzo Festa (1495-1545), who was known for his works on ethics and moral philosophy.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various regions of Italy. For instance, a "Domenico Festa" was recorded as a landowner in Naples in 1612, while a "Francesco Festa" was a merchant in Palermo, Sicily, in 1674.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with several notable figures. Vincenzo Festa (1738-1809) was an Italian composer and music teacher, known for his operas and sacred works.

Another individual was the Italian painter Pietro Festa (1700-1768), whose works can be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.

The 19th century saw the surname Festa spread beyond Italy's borders. For example, a "Juan Festa" was recorded as a businessman in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1832, suggesting that the name had been carried by Italian immigrants to the Americas.

Throughout history, the surname Festa has been associated with various professions, including artists, scholars, merchants, and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name has since spread across the globe, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse backgrounds of those who bear it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Festa

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

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

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

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