2000
#15,235
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,773
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.66
Rare Last name
Gargiulo
An Italian surname derived from the word "garguglio" meaning "water spout" or "gargoyle".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,193 Americans carry the last name Gargiulo. That puts it at #14,872 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.64 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 156,295 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gargiulo 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Gargiulo with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 156,295
Census rank
#14,872
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,912 bearers of the surname Gargiulo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.64 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 14872nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gargiulo, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gargiulo
The surname Gargiulo originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Campania. It can be traced back to the early 15th century and is derived from the Italian word "gargiulo," which means "throat" or "gullet." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone with a distinctive characteristic related to their throat or voice.
One of the earliest known records of the name Gargiulo can be found in a medieval Italian document from the year 1426, where it appears as "Gargiulo di Napoli," referring to an individual from Naples. This indicates that the name was already established in the Naples area during that time period.
In the 16th century, the Gargiulo family gained prominence in the town of Gragnano, located near Naples. Several members of the family were involved in the production of pasta, which Gragnano was renowned for. One notable Gargiulo was Gennaro Gargiulo, a pasta maker who lived from 1520 to 1595 and was recognized for his exceptional skill in crafting high-quality pasta products.
Another significant figure with the surname Gargiulo was Domenico Gargiulo, born in 1609 in Naples. He was a renowned painter and architect who contributed to the design and construction of several churches and palaces in the city. His works can still be admired today, showcasing the artistic talent associated with this surname.
Moving forward to the 18th century, the Gargiulo name appears in historical records related to the Italian unification movement. Vincenzo Gargiulo (1735-1810) was a lawyer and patriot who actively supported the cause of Italian independence. He played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of the Neapolitan people during a tumultuous period in the region's history.
In the field of literature, the Gargiulo surname is represented by the Italian writer and poet Raffaele Gargiulo, who was born in Naples in 1785. His works, which included poetry collections and novels, explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape of his time.
Throughout the centuries, the Gargiulo surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, politicians, intellectuals, and more. Despite its humble origins, the name has gained recognition and respect, reflecting the diverse contributions made by those who bear it.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gargiulo
Among Census respondents with the surname Gargiulo, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Gargiulo 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 Gargiulo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.1% · 1,741
- Hispanic or Latino5.9% · 112
- Two or more races2.0% · 38
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 12
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 6
- Black or African American0.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gargiulo
Gargiulo 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
#15,397
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,904
+131 bearers (+7.4%)
Per 100,000 0.65
Rank movement Down 162 places
2020
#14,872
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,912
+8 bearers (+0.4%)
Per 100,000 0.64
Rank movement Up 525 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #15,235 | 1,773 | 0.66 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,397 | 1,904 | 0.65 | +131 bearers (+7.4%) | Down 162 places |
| 2020 | #14,872 | 1,912 | 0.64 | +8 bearers (+0.4%) | Up 525 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 Gargiulo 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 | #15,397 | #14,872 | 3.4% |
| Count | 1,904 | 1,912 | 0.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.65 | 0.64 | -1.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gargiulo bearers went from 1,904 to 1,912 (+0.4% change). The surname moved up 525 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,397 to #14,872.
FAQ
Gargiulo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gargiulo?
Name Census estimates that about 2,193 living Americans carry the surname Gargiulo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 156,295 residents.
How common is Gargiulo?
Gargiulo ranks #14,872 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.64 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,912 people with the surname Gargiulo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,193), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.64 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.64 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Gargiulo.
Has Gargiulo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gargiulo went from 1,904 recorded bearers to 1,912. That is an increase of 8 (+0.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,397 to #14,872.
What does the Census say about the background of Gargiulo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gargiulo, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Two or More Races (2.0%). 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 Gargiulo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.1% (1,741 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gargiulo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.1%), Hispanic (5.9%), Two or More Races (2.0%). 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 Gargiulo (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 Gargiulo mean?
An Italian surname derived from the word "garguglio" meaning "water spout" or "gargoyle". 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 Gargiulo (0.64 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 Gargiulo?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.