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

Gambino, 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 Gambino surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gambino in America

Gambino is the 6558th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gambino surname appeared 5,168 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gambino.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gambino 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 Gambino

The surname Gambino originated in Italy, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "gambino," meaning "gambler" or "one who plays games." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who enjoyed gambling or playing games.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gambino name can be found in the Sicilian town of Palermo, where it was documented in the 14th century. The name was particularly prevalent in Sicily and southern Italy, where it was often associated with various noble families and landowners.

During the Renaissance period, the Gambino family gained prominence in Sicily. Notable individuals from this era include Vincenzo Gambino (1460-1530), a renowned Sicilian painter and architect who contributed to the construction of several churches and palaces in Palermo.

In the 16th century, the Gambino name appeared in several historic records, such as the Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà Siciliana (Book of Gold of Sicilian Nobility), indicating the family's prestigious status in the region.

Over the centuries, the Gambino name has been associated with several influential figures. One such individual was Domenico Gambino (1828-1892), an Italian patriot and revolutionary who fought for the unification of Italy alongside Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Another notable figure was Carlo Gambino (1902-1976), a Sicilian-born American mobster who became the boss of the Gambino crime family, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the United States during the 20th century.

In the realm of literature, Mario Gambino (1926-2012) was an acclaimed Italian writer and translator, known for his contributions to Italian literature and his translations of works by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman.

The Gambino name has also been associated with several prominent scientists and academics, including Antonio Gambino (1920-2004), an Italian physicist and professor at the University of Palermo, and Francesco Gambino (born 1958), an Italian mathematician and professor at the University of Naples Federico II.

While the Gambino surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread globally, with individuals bearing this name found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and several South American nations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gambino

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

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

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

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