Find out how popular the last name Foletta is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Foletta.
Italian surname derived from the Italian word "foletto" meaning a small mythological creature.
Foletta, 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 Foletta surname is from the 2000 census data.
Foletta is the 146011th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Foletta surname appeared 104 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Foletta.
The surname Foletta likely has its origins in Italy, and it is closely associated with the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont. The name might have emerged during the late Middle Ages, roughly around the 14th or 15th century. The etymology of Foletta is probably derived from older Italian or Latin roots. It is thought to be a diminutive form of the word "foglia," which translates to "leaf" in Italian, hinting at a connection with nature or a possible ancestral occupation such as a gardener or vineyard worker. Variations like Foletti or Folletti may have existed, pointing to the surname's regional dispersal and phonetic transformations over time.
Historical records first mentioned the surname Foletta in various manuscript documents and church records in northern Italy. One of the earliest known mentions is in a baptismal record from 1548 in the town of Vercelli in Piedmont. During the Renaissance, families bearing the surname were often involved in local trades and commerce, supporting the theory of the name’s connection to natural elements and agriculture.
Among the notable individuals who carried the surname Foletta was Giovanni Foletta, born in 1603, who became a well-regarded merchant in Milan. His trade relations helped establish the Foletta family as influential figures in Lombardy society. Another person of interest is Matteo Foletta, born in 1675, who made a significant impact as a cleric and scholar, known for his work on local history and ecclesiastical records in Turin.
In the 18th century, a figure known as Lorenzo Foletta became noteworthy. Born in 1721, he was a painter whose works contributed to the Baroque art movement in Northern Italy. His paintings can still be found in churches and galleries in the Piedmont region. By the 19th century, the Foletta surname had spread more widely in Northern Italy, with branches of the family establishing themselves in regional cities such as Genoa and Venice.
Another prominent individual bearing the surname was Rosa Foletta, born in 1808. She earned recognition for her charitable work and contributions to social reforms in Milan, particularly advocating for education and women's rights. Her efforts left a lasting legacy in community welfare and education systems in Lombardy.
In terms of place names, the central areas in which the Foletta family resided, such as Vercelli and Milan, offer rich archives that reflect the surname's legacy. Historical documents from these areas often reveal additional spellings and variants of the name, capturing the linguistic shifts throughout the centuries.
Thus, the surname Foletta carries with it a unique blend of historical significance, regional identity, and etymological roots, underpinned by a series of notable figures who have made impactful contributions across various domains in Italy's rich tapestry of history.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Foletta.
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:
For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Foletta was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 92.31% | 96 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | 6.73% | 7 |
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.
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 Foletta was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/foletta-surname-popularity/">Foletta last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Foletta last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 20, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/foletta-surname-popularity/.
"Foletta last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/foletta-surname-popularity/. Accessed 20 July, 2025
Foletta last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/foletta-surname-popularity/.
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