Garbo
A surname possibly derived from the Italian word 'garbo' meaning charm or grace.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Garbo. That puts it at #43,285 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Garbo 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#43,285
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
499
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 499 bearers of the surname Garbo in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 43285th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Garbo, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Garbo
The surname GARBO is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Italian word "garbo," which means grace, elegance, or charm. This name likely referred to someone who exhibited these qualities or had a graceful or charming demeanor.
Some sources suggest that the name GARBO may have originated in the region of Tuscany, where there are several towns and villages with names similar to GARBO, such as Garbognano and Garbogna. These place names could have been the source of the surname for families that lived in or near these locations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GARBO can be found in the Florentine Codex, a 16th-century manuscript that documented the history and culture of the Aztec people in what is now Mexico. The Codex mentions a Spanish missionary named Fray Juan de Grado, whose surname was sometimes written as GARBO.
In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname GARBO was Raffaello GARBO, an Italian painter and architect who was active in Rome during the Baroque period. He was born in 1609 and died in 1672.
Another individual of historical significance with the surname GARBO was Gian Battista GARBO, an Italian physician and philosopher who lived in the 15th century. He was born in Ferrara in 1412 and died in 1489.
In the 19th century, a famous actress and dancer named Eva GARBO was born in Sweden in 1851. She was widely known for her performances in various European cities and was considered a leading ballerina of her time. She died in 1919.
One of the most renowned individuals with the surname GARBO was the Swedish-American actress Greta GARBO, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson in 1905. She was a legendary figure in Hollywood's golden age and starred in numerous classic films, including "Flesh and the Devil," "Anna Christie," and "Grand Hotel." Greta GARBO died in 1990 at the age of 84.
While these are some notable examples of individuals with the surname GARBO throughout history, it is important to note that the name's origins and early usage may have varied across different regions and cultures.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Garbo
Among Census respondents with the surname Garbo, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Garbo 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 Garbo surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.0%
- Hispanic or Latino5.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander5.2%
- Black or African American4.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Garbo 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 | #43,285 | #43,285 | 0.0% |
| Count | 499 | 499 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Garbo bearers went from 499 to 499 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #43,285 to #43,285.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Garbo
FAQ
Garbo surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Garbo?
The surname Garbo holds position #43,285 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Garbo surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Garbo, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (5.2%). 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.