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

Imo, 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 Imo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Imo in America

Imo is the 96368th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Imo surname appeared 189 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 Imo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Imo 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 Imo

The surname IMO has its origins in Italy, with records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to derive from the Latin word "imo," meaning "the lowest" or "the bottom." This may suggest that the name was originally given to someone who lived at the bottom of a hill or valley.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the IMO surname can be found in a medieval manuscript from the city of Genoa, dated around 1375. The record refers to a merchant named Pietro Imo, who traded in spices and textiles along the Mediterranean coast.

In the 15th century, the IMO name appears in several Venetian maritime records, indicating that members of the family were involved in the city's thriving naval and trading industries. One notable figure from this era was Marco Imo, a ship captain who sailed for the Venetian Republic between 1460 and 1489.

As the centuries passed, the IMO surname spread across various regions of Italy, with pockets of families settling in cities like Milan, Florence, and Naples. In 1612, a scholar named Girolamo Imo was born in Padua. He went on to become a renowned philosopher and theologian, publishing several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

The 18th century saw the birth of Antonio Imo (1723-1798), a celebrated painter from Bologna whose works adorned numerous churches and palaces across northern Italy. His most famous work, "The Assumption of the Virgin," can still be seen in the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna.

Another notable individual with the IMO surname was Lucia Imo (1805-1879), a philanthropist from Milan who dedicated her life and considerable wealth to establishing orphanages and schools for underprivileged children. Her legacy is honored through the Lucia Imo Foundation, which continues to support educational initiatives in the region.

While the IMO name has its deepest roots in Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, its rich history and connections to Italian culture, commerce, and the arts remain an integral part of its heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Imo

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

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

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

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