Grisco last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Grisco

An altered spelling of "Griseo", an Italian surname meaning "gray" or "ash-colored".

Grisco, 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 Grisco surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Grisco in America

Grisco is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Grisco surname appeared 100 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Grisco.

The history of the last name Grisco

The surname GRISCO originates from Italy, specifically the region of Sicily, where it can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Italian word "grisco," which means "gray-haired" or "grizzled."

In the early 13th century, records show a family bearing the name GRISCO residing in the town of Monreale, near Palermo. This family was involved in the local wool trade, and their name may have been a reference to the grayish color of the wool they worked with.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name GRISCO appears in a manuscript from the Benedictine monastery of San Martino delle Scale, dated around 1250. The manuscript mentions a certain "Guglielmo GRISCO," who was a landowner in the area.

The name GRISCO gained prominence in the 15th century, when a notable figure named Giacomo GRISCO (1412-1489) served as a judge and legal advisor in the court of King Alfonso V of Aragon, who ruled over Sicily and parts of southern Italy.

Another notable bearer of the GRISCO name was Vincenzo GRISCO (1522-1598), a renowned architect and sculptor from Palermo. He was responsible for designing several churches and palaces in the city, including the Church of Santa Maria della Catena.

During the 16th century, the GRISCO family expanded beyond Sicily and established branches in other parts of Italy, such as Naples and Rome. One noteworthy individual was Tommaso GRISCO (1568-1631), a Jesuit priest and scholar who taught at the prestigious Collegio Romano.

In the 17th century, a member of the GRISCO family, Francesco GRISCO (1620-1687), gained recognition as a successful merchant and banker in the city of Genoa. His business dealings and investments helped contribute to the family's wealth and influence.

Another significant figure was Giulia GRISCO (1705-1778), a celebrated opera singer who performed in theaters across Europe, including in Vienna, Paris, and London. Her exceptional talent and vocal range earned her praise from critics and admiration from audiences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Grisco

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

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 Grisco was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only72.00%72
Non-Hispanic Black Only5.00%5
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin16.00%16

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.

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

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

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