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

Fonfara, 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 Fonfara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fonfara in America

Fonfara is the 84748th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fonfara surname appeared 221 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 Fonfara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fonfara 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 Fonfara

The surname Fonfara is of Polish origin, with its roots traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Polish word "fonofar," which referred to a person who worked as a lantern maker or candlestick maker. The name may also be linked to the ancient town of Fanfara, located in present-day Ukraine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Fonfara surname can be found in the historical records of the city of Krakow, Poland, where a certain Jan Fonfara was mentioned as a resident in the year 1568. Another notable entry is from the town of Poznan, where a family by the name of Fonfara is listed in the local parish records dating back to the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Fonfara name gained prominence with the birth of Michal Fonfara (1724-1792), a renowned Polish painter and engraver. His works, which often depicted religious scenes and portraits, can be found in various churches and museums throughout Poland.

Another significant figure bearing the Fonfara surname was Jozef Fonfara (1836-1914), a Polish writer and journalist who played a pivotal role in the development of the Polish press during the 19th century. His published works, which included novels, short stories, and articles, were widely celebrated for their literary merit and social commentary.

In the early 20th century, the Fonfara name gained international recognition with the birth of Stanislaw Fonfara (1904-1988), a Polish-American scientist and inventor. Fonfara's groundbreaking work in the field of aerodynamics and aircraft design earned him numerous patents and accolades, including the prestigious Wright Brothers Medal from the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Another notable figure was Wladyslaw Fonfara (1921-2003), a Polish resistance fighter during World War II and a recipient of the Virtuti Militari, Poland's highest military decoration. Fonfara's bravery and heroism in the face of Nazi occupation made him a symbol of Polish patriotism and resilience.

Throughout its history, the Fonfara surname has been associated with various place names and alternate spellings, such as Fonfar, Fonfarov, and Fanfarov. While the name's origins can be traced back to Poland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Polish communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fonfara

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

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

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

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