2000
#132,259
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Gallaro
A surname of Italian and Spanish origin, possibly derived from the Gallic word "gal" meaning rooster or cockerel.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 118 Americans carry the last name Gallaro. That puts it at #154,182 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,904,698 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gallaro 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
118
1 in 2,904,698
Census rank
#154,182
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
103
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 103 bearers of the surname Gallaro in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154182nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gallaro, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.6%) and Two or More Races (6.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gallaro
The surname Gallaro originated in Italy, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "gallo," meaning rooster or cock. This name was likely adopted by families who resided in areas where roosters were prominent or used as a symbol.
In the early 14th century, the name Gallaro appeared in several historical records, including the "Libro d'Oro" (Book of Gold) in Venice. This document was a registry of noble families, indicating that the Gallaro family held a prominent status during that time.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Gallaro was Giovanni Gallaro, a merchant and trader who lived in the city of Genoa in the late 15th century. His successful business ventures allowed him to accumulate significant wealth and influence.
During the Renaissance period, the Gallaro family gained prominence in the arts. Luciano Gallaro (1490-1563) was a renowned painter from Florence, known for his intricate frescoes and religious artwork adorning several churches and cathedrals throughout Italy.
In the 17th century, the name Gallaro was associated with the town of Gallaro, located in the province of Reggio Calabria in southern Italy. It is believed that some members of the family may have taken their name from this location, which was once a thriving agricultural center.
One notable figure from this period was Antonio Gallaro (1612-1678), a philosopher and scholar who taught at the University of Naples. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were highly influential during his lifetime.
The surname Gallaro also has connections to the island of Sicily. In the 18th century, Giuseppe Gallaro (1734-1802) was a successful businessman and landowner from the city of Palermo. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, contributing to the construction of several churches and schools in the region.
Another prominent individual was Maria Gallaro (1820-1892), a renowned opera singer from Naples. She performed at some of the most prestigious theaters in Europe, including La Scala in Milan and the Royal Opera House in London, earning critical acclaim for her powerful soprano voice.
Throughout its history, the surname Gallaro has been associated with various professions, from merchants and artists to scholars and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gallaro
Among Census respondents with the surname Gallaro, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.6%) and Two or More Races (6.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Gallaro 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 Gallaro surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.6% · 81
- Hispanic or Latino13.6% · 14
- Two or more races6.8% · 7
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gallaro
Gallaro 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
#133,048
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 127
+9 bearers (+7.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 789 places
2020
#154,182
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-24 bearers (-18.9%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 21,134 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #132,259 | 118 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,048 | 127 | 0.04 | +9 bearers (+7.6%) | Down 789 places |
| 2020 | #154,182 | 103 | 0.03 | -24 bearers (-18.9%) | Down 21,134 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 Gallaro 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 | #133,048 | #154,182 | -15.9% |
| Count | 127 | 103 | -18.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -13.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gallaro bearers went from 127 to 103 (-18.9% change). The surname moved down 21,134 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,048 to #154,182.
FAQ
Gallaro surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gallaro?
Name Census estimates that about 118 living Americans carry the surname Gallaro. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,904,698 residents.
How common is Gallaro?
Gallaro ranks #154,182 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 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 103 people with the surname Gallaro. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (118), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 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 Gallaro.
Has Gallaro become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gallaro went from 127 recorded bearers to 103. That is a decrease of 24 (-18.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,048 to #154,182.
What does the Census say about the background of Gallaro?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gallaro, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.6%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (13.6%) and Two or More Races (6.8%). 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 Gallaro in the 2020 Census, accounting for 78.6% (81 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gallaro appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (78.6%), Hispanic (13.6%), Two or More Races (6.8%). 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 Gallaro (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 Gallaro mean?
A surname of Italian and Spanish origin, possibly derived from the Gallic word "gal" meaning rooster or cockerel. 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 Gallaro (0.03 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 Gallaro?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.