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

Gentile, 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 Gentile surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gentile in America

Gentile is the 2436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gentile surname appeared 14,873 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Gentile.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gentile 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 Gentile

The surname Gentile has its origins in Italy, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "gentile," which means "of noble birth" or "of gentle manners." The name was likely given to individuals who displayed refined qualities or belonged to the gentry class.

During the medieval period, the Gentile name was prevalent in various regions of Italy, particularly in the northern regions such as Veneto, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna. Some early records indicate the presence of the name in the city of Venice as early as the 13th century.

One notable historical figure bearing the Gentile surname was Giovanni Gentile, an Italian philosopher and politician who lived from 1875 to 1944. He was a prominent advocate of Actual Idealism and served as the Minister of Public Education in Benito Mussolini's government.

Another well-known Gentile was Artemisia Gentileschi, a remarkable Italian Baroque painter who lived from 1593 to 1656. She was one of the first female artists to gain recognition and acclaim in the male-dominated art world of her time.

The Gentile name can also be found in various historical records and manuscripts from different regions of Italy. For instance, the Codex Gentile, a 14th-century manuscript containing legal texts and statutes from the city of Padua, bears the Gentile name.

In terms of place names, the town of Gentile di Sicilia in southern Italy is believed to have derived its name from the Gentile family who once held significant influence in the area. Additionally, the noble Gentile family of Venice left their mark on the city's history and architecture, with several palaces and buildings bearing their name.

Other notable individuals with the Gentile surname include Guido Gentile, an Italian mathematician and philosopher who lived from 1834 to 1916, and Luigi Gentile, an Italian painter and sculptor active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Gentile surname has a rich history and a strong connection to Italian culture and nobility. While its meaning has evolved over time, it remains a testament to the enduring presence of this name in various aspects of Italian history and society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gentile

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

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

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

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