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

Grillo, 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 Grillo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grillo in America

Grillo is the 5472nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grillo surname appeared 6,355 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 Grillo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Grillo 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 Grillo

The surname Grillo originated in Italy, likely emerging during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Italian word "grillo," meaning "cricket." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone who exhibited characteristics reminiscent of a cricket, such as being small, lively, or vocal.

The earliest known record of the name Grillo dates back to the 13th century in the region of Liguria, in northwestern Italy. Historical documents from that period mention individuals with this surname residing in the coastal city of Genoa.

In the 14th century, the Grillo family gained prominence in Genoa, with members holding influential positions in the city's government and mercantile sector. One notable figure was Antonio Grillo (1350-1418), a wealthy merchant and banker who served as a financial advisor to the Genoese Republic.

As the Grillo family expanded, branches of the lineage established themselves in other parts of Italy, such as Sicily and Naples. In the 16th century, records indicate the presence of Grillos in the town of Castelvetrano, located in the province of Trapani, Sicily.

Over the centuries, the surname Grillo has been associated with various notable individuals, including the Italian philosopher and writer Giovanni Battista Grillo (1618-1679), who was born in Naples and is known for his philosophical treatises.

Another prominent figure was the Italian painter and architect Domenico Grillo (1675-1738), who hailed from Genoa and contributed significantly to the Baroque architectural style prevalent in the city during the 17th and 18th centuries.

In more recent history, the name Grillo has been carried by individuals such as the Italian comedian and political activist Beppe Grillo (born in 1948), who founded the Five Star Movement, a popular political party in Italy.

It is worth noting that variations of the surname Grillo exist, such as Grilli and Grillos, which can be found in various regions of Italy and among Italian diaspora communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grillo

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

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

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

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