Funicello
An Italian surname derived from "funicullo" meaning a small rope or cord.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 240 Americans carry the last name Funicello. That puts it at #85,357 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,428,143 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Funicello surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
240
1 in 1,428,143
Census rank
#85,357
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
219
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 219 bearers of the surname Funicello in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 85357th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Funicello, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Funicello
The surname Funicello originates from Italy and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Italian word "funicella," which means a small rope or cord. The name likely referred to an occupation or trade involving the production or use of ropes or cords.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Funicello can be found in the historical archives of the city of Naples, where a family of that name was documented in the late 1500s. The name was also prevalent in other regions of southern Italy, such as Calabria and Sicily.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, as Italian immigration to other parts of Europe and the Americas increased, the Funicello surname began to appear in various records and documents outside of Italy. For instance, there are mentions of individuals with this last name in Spanish colonial records from the late 1600s, indicating the presence of Funicello families in the Caribbean and Latin American regions.
One notable figure with the surname Funicello was Annette Funicello (1942-2013), an American actress and singer who rose to fame as a Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club television series in the 1950s. She later had a successful career in films and as a recording artist.
Another historical figure was Giuseppe Funicello (1848-1923), an Italian architect and engineer who was instrumental in the construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in Naples and other parts of southern Italy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the realm of literature, there was also a writer named Vincenzo Funicello (1901-1963), who was known for his works exploring the cultural traditions and folklore of his native Calabria region in southern Italy.
Additionally, the Funicello name has been associated with several prominent families in the wine-making industry, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Piedmont, where vineyards and wineries bearing this surname have been in operation for generations.
Throughout its history, the Funicello surname has maintained a strong presence in Italy and among Italian communities around the world, reflecting its deep roots and cultural significance within the Italian diaspora.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Funicello
Among Census respondents with the surname Funicello, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Funicello bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Funicello surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.2%
- Hispanic or Latino9.1%
- Two or more races2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Funicello surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #85,357 | #85,357 | 0.0% |
| Count | 219 | 219 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Funicello bearers went from 219 to 219 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #85,357 to #85,357.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Funicello
FAQ
Funicello surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Funicello?
The surname Funicello holds position #85,357 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 240 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Funicello surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Funicello, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.1%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.