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

Gargano, 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 Gargano surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gargano in America

Gargano is the 11890th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gargano surname appeared 2,633 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Gargano.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gargano 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 Gargano

The surname Gargano originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Puglia, located in the southeastern part of the country. The name is believed to have derived from the Gargano promontory, a coastal area known for its stunning natural beauty and rich history.

The Gargano promontory was home to several ancient settlements, including the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, which dates back to the 6th century AD. It is possible that the surname Gargano emerged from this area during the Middle Ages, when surnames became more widespread among Italian families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gargano can be found in a document from the 13th century, which mentions a certain Nicola Gargano, a landowner in the town of Vieste, located on the Gargano promontory. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

In the 14th century, another notable figure bearing the surname Gargano was Francesco Gargano (c. 1320-1390), a renowned scholar and philosopher from the city of Bari. His writings on logic and metaphysics were highly influential during the Renaissance period.

During the 16th century, the name Gargano gained further prominence with the birth of Tommaso Gargano (1548-1621), a celebrated painter and architect from the town of Monte Sant'Angelo. His works can still be admired in various churches and palaces throughout southern Italy.

In the 18th century, the Gargano family produced another notable figure, Giuseppe Gargano (1732-1799), a renowned composer and violinist who served as the court musician for the King of Naples. His compositions were widely performed throughout Europe during his lifetime.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname Gargano was Antonio Gargano (1855-1922), a prominent politician and lawyer from the city of Naples. He served as a member of the Italian parliament and was known for his efforts in promoting social reforms and workers' rights.

Throughout history, the name Gargano has been closely associated with the Gargano promontory and the surrounding region of Puglia. While the name has spread to other parts of Italy and beyond, its origins can be traced back to this picturesque coastal area, which has played an essential role in shaping the cultural and historical significance of the surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gargano

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

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

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

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